Businesses in Maidstone town centre have been targeted in a spate of burglaries

Over a period of just a two weeks, seven premises had been hit by thieves.

Police received a report that a restaurant in Week Street had been burgled between 1.15am and 5.30am on Tuesday, May 22 when cash and alcohol had been stolen.

It was also reported that at around 2.45am on the same morning, somebody had damaged a door at a restaurant in King Street before running from the scene.

A few days later on Saturday, May 26, officers were called about two shops that had been burgled in Week Street between 3am and 5am.

Again, cash was stolen from one and the door at the other had been damaged.

The following day, reports were received that a restaurant in Ashford Road had been burgled at around 4.45am and cash was stolen, and a restaurant in Week Street had damage to a door between 4am and 2pm.

A further report was received on Saturday June 2 that a takeaway restaurant in Week Street had been broken into between 2am and 7am.

Chief Inspector Mark Hedges said: "We are linking these offences and officers are pursuing several lines of enquiry to identify and bring the offenders to justice.

"I would ask members of the public to call us on 101 or 999 in an emergency if they see somebody acting suspiciously near shops or restaurants in Maidstone centre after they have closed."

Anyone who has any information that could help the investigation is asked to contact Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting reference YY/18345/18.

Alternatively contact the Kent Crimestoppers charity anonymously, on 0800 555 111.