Police have issued a warning about stickers which may have been left on houses by criminals looking to burgle homes.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said officers had received a number of calls from the public about stickers advertising locksmith services with a telephone number which does not connect.

It is feared the stickers are part of a system to see which of them are not removed because the property is unoccupied and will be easier to burgle.

The spokesperson said: "We have received a number of calls from members of the public reporting such stickers and are working to establish exactly where the stickers have been found and if they are linked to any burglaries.

"At this stage we are only aware of one burglary, in Wandsworth, that has taken place at a property that has a sticker.

"However, we cannot confirm the property was burgled because it had a sticker."

Police said concerned residents should not call 101 nor 999 and should instead contact their safer neighbourhood team by finding them at www.met.police.uk.