Police are investigating a spate of burglaries over the Easter weekend – including one in which offenders defecated on the floor.

Two cars, a motorbike, TVs and money were among the items stolen during seven bank holiday break-ins at homes in Handforth, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge and Styal.

In one raid overnight on Saturday, offenders broke into a garage at a house on Adlington Road in Wilmslow and smashed the window of a silver Vauxhall Astra inside. Nothing was stolen but they defecated on the floor before leaving.

Detective Sgt Simon Mills said: “Clearly it was an unpleasant thing for the occupants to discover. The faeces will not form part of the investigation.”

A police spokesman said it was ‘not a viable line of enquiry’.

The number of break-ins was more than is normally reported over a weekend, police added.

In another incident, thieves broke into a house on Meriton Road, Handforth, overnight on Friday, March 29, before taking a handbag with car keys and stealing a silver Volkswagen Golf parked outside.

At 6.30am on Saturday, there were reports of a burglary overnight on Bulkeley Road, Handforth, in which thieves got in through an open window to steal an iPad, money and a watch.

On Saturday, at 12.25pm, a resident arrived home on Brook Lane, Alderley Edge, to find two men in their 40s and of Eastern European appearance on his driveway.

The men ran off, but the victim found his house had been ransacked and money stolen.

On Sunday, police had reports of a 650cc Kawasaki motorbike stolen from a house on Knowle Park, Handforth.

It was taken between 10am on Saturday and 7am on Sunday.

The bike was found at 7pm that day abandoned on a dirt track at Sagars Road, Handforth.

On Monday, there were reports of a break-in at an outbuilding on Quarry Bank Road in Styal.

Thieves smashed a window at a house on Hereford Drive, Handforth, between Thursday evening and Monday evening, and stole two TVs, a computer and a black Vauxhall Astra parked outside. The car was found later on the M56.

Det Sgt Mills said: “We’re following various lines of enquiry and remind residents to reassess their security measures to reduce their chances of being targeted.

“Residents can join in the fight against crime. Neighbours are urged to look out for people acting suspiciously.

“Even the smallest amount of information can be useful when piecing together a case.”