BEACH huts and a restaurant were targeted during a spate of break-ins in a remote area of Portland.

A dozen huts at Portland Bill were damaged as burglars attempted to force their way in, while the nearby Lobster Pot Restaurant was broken into on the same night.

PC Mike Holman, of Portland police, said he believed the incidents were committed by the same thieves.

He said: “There were 12 huts damaged in all, three were broken into but nothing of significance was stolen from them.

“However, we do believe there was a link between these break-ins and a break in around the same time at the Lobster Pot Restaurant.”

The police did not wish to divulge what had been taken from the Lobster Pot, but PC Holman said the thieves made off with slim pickings from the beach huts because the owners had sensibly not stored anything of value there.

He said: “Most people are very wise and never leave anything of value in there.

“For them the major annoyance is having to repair the damage.”

PC Holman dismissed suggestions that the break-ins were just kids messing around and said they appeared to be of a more serious nature.

He said: “We don’t think it has got anything to do with children.

“It would have been quite time-consuming and quite a lot of force was used.

“It’s not the sort of thing you would associate with youngsters.”

PC Holman said the break-ins occurred sometime between 4.30pm on the evening of Sunday, March 29, and 8am the following morning.

He added: “We would be interested in anybody who might have seen anything that night.”

PC Holman said that, while this type of offence was rare in the area, a similar spate of attacks had occurred almost exactly a year ago.

Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police on 01305 222222.