THREE men from Waltham Forest are said to have been behind a burglary spree in an Essex town.

Mihai Atanasescu, 19, of Hibbert Road, Walthamstow, Eduard Nicolaie, 22, of Clifford Road, Walthamstow, and Rares Mora, 19, of Seymour Road, Leyton, have all been arrested in connection with burglaries in Ongar.

At 3am on Friday, October 9, it is alleged they attempted to break into a house in Long Fields, Ongar, causing £1,000 in damage.

Around that time a home in Rodney Road was broken into and a mobile phone, cash and wallet were stolen.

Police were then contacted at 6.30am that day by a homeowner, in Long Fields, who reported his Ford Focus had been stolen and thieves had taken a number of electrical items from his house.

Road policing officers and dog handlers were deployed along with a police helicopter resulting in the arrest of the three men.

Atanesescu is charged with one count of attempted burglary, two counts of burglary and one count of causing criminal damage.

Mora, is charged with one count of attempted burglary, two counts of burglary, one count of causing criminal damage, one count of driving a vehicle other than in accordance with a licence and one count of driving without insurance.

Nicolaie, is charged with one count of attempted burglary, two counts of burglary and two counts of causing criminal damage.

All three men have been detained in police custody prior to their appearance at Harlow Magistrates Court tomorrow, October 12.