BRAZEN thieves stole an expensive pair of heavy 17th century gates from the driveway of a Bramshott home.

The French wrought-iron gates, worth £20,000, were taken in what police believe was a targeted theft from the secluded home in Burgh Hill.

The theft - between 4 pm Tuesday, August 31 and 5 pm the following day - coincided with another from a property in nearby Headley which police believe could be linked.

In the second theft, between 2-30 pm on August 31 and 8 am the following day, a pair of arched wooden gates worth £4,000 were stolen from a home in Standford Lane.

Now police are urging owners of expensive gates, and items of garden furniture like staddle stones, to ensure that they are properly secured.

Sergeant Nick Nickson, of the Longmoor Sector, said that the thefts would have had to have been planned and the thieves, of which there must have been at least two, would have needed a large vehicle, such as a lorry, to be able to carry the gates away.

"I suspect that these gates would have been stolen to order," he said.

"The ones from Bramshott particularly are a very specific type of gates and they could have been targeted. If anybody who may have used that lane that may have seen some suspect activity or suspect vehicles which were likely to be lorry sized we would obviously like to hear from."

He urged owners of expensive gates to consider stepping up their security.

"There is no simple answer," he said. "But I think if people have got expensive gates if they can consider whether or not they can improve the security by making it difficult for them to be removed. They might want to think about somehow chaining them or anything that can be done to make it as difficult as possible. Gravel driveways, for example, are sometimes good because then you can hear people going across the gravel.

"Another thing that would be helpful would be for people to photograph their gates, which can then help us to try and identify them."

Anyone with any information about the thefts is urged to contact Whitehill Police Station on 0845 045 45 45.