Six violent jewellery raids in only 12 days have led to a police vow to get tough on household robberies.

Police have revealed that since November 26, there have been six robberies on Bradford homes where expensive gold jewellery and cash has been stolen.

Those raids targeted Asian households, including two reported by the Telegraph & Argus.

On November 28, an 81-year-old grandfather had a gun pointed at his head during a raid at his home on Clayton Road, Lidget Green.

Masked raiders ransacked the home of Mohammed Amin before stealing £45,000-worth of sentimental gold jewellery.

Last Wednesday, single mother Farnaz Khan was hit on the head with a spanner when four masked men burst into her home on Galsworthy Avenue, Chellow Heights.

The robbers also tried to suffocate her with a cushion and a prayer mat, before making off with more than £1,000-worth of gold jewellery.

A friend of Mrs Khan claimed there had been between 20 and 25 raids in the Chellow Heights area in the last couple of months.

Also, on October 20, a Clayton family was held at gunpoint as raiders stole £60,000-worth of gold jewellery.

Detective Inspector Stuart Lyons, of Airedale and North Bradford CID, said: “I fully appreciate the concerns of local residents and can assure them that we are taking every possible step to apprehend those responsible and tackle the illegal trade of stolen gold jewellery.

“Each policing division in Bradford has a priority crime team made up of detectives who are dedicated to identifying and arresting those responsible.

“We are keeping an open mind as to the individuals involved in each of these latest robberies. However, we are not discounting the possibility that some of these are linked.”

He added: “For some time, neighbourhood policing officers have been working with local jewellers to raise awareness of criminals attempting to sell stolen goods and we are also targeting unscrupulous businesses prepared to accept these items.

“Central to this, is the information we receive from the community. It is likely people know who is behind these incidents and we would urge them to come forward and let us know.”

Insp Lyons also urged homeowners to take the necessary security precautions.

“In terms of prevention, it is important that people consider security measures to protect their high-value possession in the home and ensure they do not advertise the fact they are present in their property,” he said.

Last Tuesday, three men were arrested for a burglary in which gold jewellery was stolen from a house on Pasture Lane in Clayton earlier the same day. The jewellery was recovered by police.

Anyone with information on any of these robberies should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.