CLUED-up burglars forced their way into a Costa Coffee. Two days later it is thought the same gang targeted a jewellers' nearby.

Detectives said the burglaries would have required careful planning and the same thieves may have been responsible for both thefts.

Both businesses were in Marlborough.

In the first burglary, overnight between June 9 and 10, the front door to Costa Coffee was forced open and a safe containing a laptop and a large amount of cash was stolen. The burglars rummaged through lockers and filing cabinets.

In the early hours of June 12, the thieves targeted County Jewellers in Hughenden Yard. Jewellery boxes were later found scattered in a field in Ogbourne St Andrew. Det Con Cerys Powell said the burglars had arrived at the shop in a grey Audi Q5, driven from the direction of the rugby club.

She added: “We believe both of these incidents required careful planning. We are keeping an open mind but we believe they may be linked.”