CASH and electrical items were stolen during raids on three Chinese restaurants on the same day.

Thieves targeted China Garden and The Gold Lion in Dresden and Gemstone Garden in Fenton.

Detectives are linking the break-ins, which were carried out in broad daylight, and are appealing for witnesses.

The burglary at China Garden, in Belgrave Road, happened between 2pm and 4.15pm on Tuesday. Thieves forced a back door to get inside and went on to steal an undisclosed amount of cash and three laptop computers.

The Gold Lion, in Trentham Road, was targeted some time between 10am and 6.30pm. Again, offenders made their way in by forcing open the back door and took cash and a laptop.

The break-in at Gemstone Garden, on City Road, was discovered at 6.15pm when the shop's owner arrived to open up for the evening.

Offenders had entered the shop through the front door and stole a television from the waiting area.

Chief Inspector Peter Hall, from Stoke-on-Trent police division, said: "An investigation into the three break-ins is now underway by detectives from Stoke-on-Trent CID.

"Specialist scenes of crime officers have visited the scenes where appropriate and neighbourhood officers are carrying out door-to-door enquiries around each of the affected venues.

"These break-ins have taken place during daylight hours and I would encourage anyone who saw suspicious persons or suspicious vehicles around any of the venues to come forward and contact detectives."

Gary Lo, secretary of the North Staffordshire Chinese Association, pictured, said he had spoken to staff at all three takeaways since the burglaries.

"They are all very upset, which is understandable," he said.

"All three happened within quite a short time and the owners came back to find the places ransacked. They were quite similar.

"I think they were targeted because people knew they would be closed and nobody would be there. But one of the owners said he was only out for two hours at the supermarket when it happened.

"They happened during the day so somebody must have seen something. I would ask that anyone with information contacts the police."

Police reminded business owners in the city that the division's crime reduction team can provide advice on protecting premises from crime, and the Stoke-on-Trent Business Crime Initiative also welcomes new members. For more details call 0300 123 4455.

Anyone with information on the burglaries, or is offered a cheap laptop in suspicious circumstances, is asked to contact Stoke-on-Trent CID on 0300 123 4455 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.