Thirteen luxury cars, including top of the range Mercedes and BMWs, have been snatched from outside homes in the past fortnight.

Police are looking into possible links between the thefts in Banstead, Wallington, Ashtead, Kingston, Merton and Croydon which started on October 13.

Since then the thieves have stolen cars worth almost £500,000.

A Sutton Police spokesman said: "The method of entry varied: one was letterbox; another was keys believed to have been dropped by the vehicle owner in the property’s porch; and the other was an actual break-in to the property.

"Police are looking into possible links between all these offences." In Birchwood Avenue, Wallington, a BMW X5 and BMW 320 were stolen on Monday, October 14.

In Northway, Wallington, a BMW X5 was taken on Wednesday, October 16, but recovered the next day in East London.

In Higher Drive, Banstead, a Mercedes E250 and Range Rover Evoque were stolen on October 21.

A grey Mercedes E200 was also stolen from a driveway after a home was burgled in Ashtead on Thursday, October 17.

Keys were taken from a hallway in Chaffers Mead and the car stolen in the early hours after the burglar opened the front door by using the letterbox to gain access to the internal handle.

Seven luxury vehicles have also been stolen during burglaries in Kingston, Merton and Croydon from October 13 to 22.

Police are urging drivers to be vigilant, park their vehicles in garages if possible and take extra steps to secure their homes.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.