POLICE are investigating a series of raids on multi-million pound homes in Epping Forest's so-called 'Golden Triangle.'

The operation comes after thieves targeted dozens of homes in Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell and Loughton - netting tens of thousands of pounds worth of jewellery and luxury cars in the process.

Houses owned by Premier League footballers are among those raided in the area, which has been nicknamed the Golden Triangle because of its ostentatious wealth.

Chigwell is particularly popular with players from Tottenham Hotspur because of its proximity to the club's training ground.

Former West Ham captain Lucas Neill and former Tottenham players Mido and Pascal Chimbonda are all thought to have had their homes burgled.

Essex Police have set up a special unit to try and tackle the rise in luxury car thefts in the area.

An Essex Police spokesman said there was no evidence that professional footballers were being targeted specifically - and that it was part of a wider crime trend in which rich homes were being picked out by organised thieves.