HOUSEHOLDERS have been warned to be on their guard after a prowler was spotted in the Crimchard area of Chard last week.

The night time creep attempted to jemmy open windows and doors at the back of two properties in the small hours of last Wednesday morning (June 25).

PC Bill Geddes of Chard Police appealed for information about the would-be burglar and advised householders to keep security tight on hot summer nights.

"We are having a lot of people putting hands through windows at night," said PC Geddes. "I know they are hot nights, but the burglar knows this as well. It is a case of batten down the hatches."

Downstairs windows should be kept closed and valuables out of sight, making life for creeping criminals as difficult as possible, he advised.