A “creeper” burglar has been stalking the streets at night and swiping handbags left near the front doors of homes, police have warned.

Police believed the crook was responsible for a series of break ins across the borough, including ones in Barnes, Richmond, Twickenham and Hampton between 3am and 6am since May 5.

He has mainly targeted sash windows left ajar but also quietly forced them open to get into hallways. He has also climbed to the second floor to search for handbags or laptops.

Officers arrested a suspect from east London close to the scene of two of the break ins on May 24, before releasing him on bail.