THE Royal Oak at Shrewton has become the latest in a series of south Wiltshire pubs to be burgled.

The break-ins, which began in September last year, have netted the thieves thousands of pounds in cash, alcohol and cigarettes.

All the pubs have been in rural areas and all have been broken into in the early hours of the morning.

The incident at the Royal Oak, in the village's High Street, happened on January 14 and follows a burglary at the pub last September.

The intruders are believed to have got in at the back of the premises at about 3.30am, leaving via the front door.

They broke into the cigarette machine, the bar billiards and the fruit machine, and, as well as the money from the gaming machines, they took bottles of spirits and wine, chocolates, a widescreen TV and Dyson vacuum cleaner.

Police want to trace two men and a woman who spoke with a southern accent and were seen in a number of pubs the night before the burglary.

They were travelling in a grey Fiat Uno.

The burglary on September 21 last year involved the theft of money, cigarettes and alcohol, the same things taken from the Rising Sun at Donhead St Mary on September 19.

The Plume of Feathers in Shrewton was broken into on December 15 and the fruit machine, cigarette machine and pool table broken open.

A charity collecting bottle and prize-draw money were also taken, along with five bottles of spirits.

Five days later, the village's George pub was targeted.

The thieves took alcohol, turkeys, collection jars and a silver Volvo worth £5,000.

And on Boxing Day the Rose & Crown in High Street, Tilshead was burgled and the contents of a till and a charity collection bottle were stolen.

On January 2 a window was smashed at the Black Dog at Chilmark and cash and alcohol were taken.

The Penruddocke Arms at Dinton was luckier.

The intruders broke in through the patio doors at 4.10am on November 20, setting off the alarms and fleeing empty-handed.

Detective Constable Graham Briant, who is investigating the burglaries, said there were a number of similarities between the cases.

"All the pubs have been in rural locations and the break-ins were discovered by people coming in to do the cleaning or when they came downstairs in the morning.

"We want to hear from anyone who saw people acting suspiciously at the time of the burglaries.

He added that the value of fitting alarms at the Penruddocke Arms had been proved.

"We would advise all licensees, especially those in rural areas, to review their security arrangements, check all window and door locks are functioning and consider installing alarms, CCTV systems and extra security lighting," he said.

"Any of our officers would be pleased to give advice on these matters."

Anyone with information about any of the burglaries should contact Amesbury CID on 01980 623822 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.