Burglars ran away empty-handed after being “scared off” by teenage girls.

The three men, who broke into a couple's house, in Kelmscott Crescent, were spotted forcing their way through the front door.

The girls, who were walking past at around 9.30am on July 1, started photographing the criminals who only noticed five minutes later.

The men immediately stopped what they were doing and ran away towards Hagden Lane.

Police are asking anyone with information about the man in the picture to contact them.

Saheed Malik, the couple's son, has decided to go public in hope of finding the culprits. He said: “It’s lucky the girls were there otherwise they could have taken everything – fortunately the burglars were scared off and ran away.

“We didn’t even get the girls' names but they're from the neighbourhood. They’re heroes really. Who knows what could have happened if they weren't there?”

In just over a month, three different houses in the street were targeted by burglars – two attempts happened on the same day.

On May 28, jewellery and three laptops were stolen from a house in Kelmscott Crescent.

In the same night, somebody tried to force open a back door by smashing its window, in Kelmscott Close, but ran away when lights inside the house came on. The police confirmed these two crimes are linked.

Mr Saheed said his parents no longer feel safe living in the road.

He said: “Three burglaries in just over a month isn’t normal and my mum’s scared.

“She wants a new door and intruder alarms fitting. When she’s home alone she fears it might happen again.

“And it happened first thing in the morning – you don’t expect to be burgled at that time.”

The three men who broke into Mr and Mrs Malik’s home have been described as white and wearing dark colours.

One, who is around 5ft 9in, has short brown hair and is of medium build, and is believed to be in his late 20s or early 30s.

The other two offenders are described as having blond hair and being in their late teens to early 20s – one is believed to be around 5ft 3in tall.

Anyone with information should contact Hertfordshire Constabulary on 101.