Police are urging owners of gold jewellery to keep it in a safe after a spate of burglaries across Bradford.

Asian wedding jewellery worth tens of thousands of pounds has been stolen in an escalating number of raids.

At least three homes in Clayton and a number in Heaton have been targeted in recent weeks.

Asma Waraich, 33, had her wedding jewellery, worth between £30,000 and £40,000, stolen in a break-in at her home in Hunter’s Park Avenue, Clayton.

She fears the gold is being sold at secondhand market stalls.

Mrs Waraich said that since the burglary at her detached bungalow her eight-year-old son had been unable to sleep.

She said: “It has been really upsetting and traumatic. The jewellery was my wedding gold and of great sentimental value. The people who steal it do not know the effect it has on the victims.

“I urge everyone to be vigilant. Nobody has the right to come into our homes and take our hard-earned property like that.”

Police have confirmed that two other homes in Clayton were broken into last week and substantial amounts of Asian jewellery taken.

There have also been a similar robbery and six burglaries in Heaton.

Last week, Saimah Iqbal, 21, told of her devastation after intruders stole £10,000-worth of wedding jewellery from her home in Washington Street, Girlington.

Detective Inspector Pete Craig, of Airedale and North Bradford CID, who heads an anti-burglary team, confirmed there had been a rise across West Yorkshire, including Bradford, in burglaries where gold jewellery had been stolen.

“We believe this is linked more towards the current high price of gold, rather than the targeting of any particular community or group,” said Det Insp Craig.

“We would urge anyone who does hold quantities of gold jewellery, or gold, in the house to put it in a safe, or a secure location.”

Inspector Steve Dodds, in charge of the Neighbourhood Policing Team for the Heaton area, said there had been six burglaries involving the theft of Asian jewellery in the area since the start of February.

He said: “It is unusual to get that number and I have increased patrols in the area to try and deter offenders.

“Organisations are offering money for gold, and with the price of gold as a commodity the less desirable members of society are trying to take it and sell it on.

“If people are going to keep that sort of jewellery I would advise them to get some sort of safe.”

e-mail: steve.wright@telegraphandargus.co.uk