A gang of burglars has struck again and is now thought to be responsible for raids on more than 200 homes.

Police are offering a £10,000 reward to catch the group after another spate of break-ins last week.

Between December 8 and 14 the gang targeted 18 homes in Sussex along with another four in Surrey and 22 in Kent.

Over the last few days homes at the following addresses have all been targeted: Roffeys Close, Copthorne, Park Road, Midfields Drive, Beale Street, Chanctonbury Road, Nightingale Lane, Park Road and Gander Close, all in Burgess Hill, Whitegates Close in South Chailey, Chandlers Mead in Cooksbridge, Manor Drive, Cuckfield, Hurstwood Lane, Haywards Heath and Silverdale, Kymer Gardens and Shepherds Way in Hassocks.

The group is thought to be responsible for 205 break-ins across the south east since September including 59 in Sussex, 24 in Surrey, 113 in Kent and nine in London.

On each occasion the offenders have driven to their victims’ homes in a silver or dark car, usually an Audi or BMW, before breaking in at the back of the properties and stealing cash, jewellery and electrical items.

A reward of £10,500 has been put up for information that leads to arrests and convictions.

The thieves are believed to be using cars fitted with number plates that have been cloned from other unrelated cars of the same type and colour. Officers would like to speak to anyone who sees people changing number plates or who finds any abandoned plates.

Other break-ins across the country since September have taken place in Copthorne, Crowborough, East Grinstead, Crawley, Battle, Robertsbridge, Ardingly, Crawley Down, Turners Hill, Findon, Newhaven and Southwater.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Clay of Surrey Police, who is leading the investigation, said: “There are detectives from across the south east working to catch those involved but we need the public’s help.

“The key to identifying the people responsible may come from residents living near one of the victims.

“They may have seen the thieves escaping in their silver car or could have seen people acting suspiciously over the weekend.

“I would also urge people to continue to be vigilant and to tell us if they see anyone acting unusually near their homes. If something sticks out as suspicious to you, please tell us so we can investigate.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting Operation Smart or 999 if an emergency.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Residents are also being encouraged to register their property.

For more details visit www.immobilise.com.