Criminals have been breaking in to houses by pinching door keys through people's letter boxes.

Police believe burglars have used a hook type device to take keys to unlock front doors or pull down the handles of unlocked doors in a spate of break-ins in the the past week.

The keys were also used to steal a number of high-end vehicles, including two BMWs.

Detective Chief Inspector Alan Chambers, who leads Sutton’s CID, asked residents not to leave their keys near their front door.