THIEVES raided two schools stealing 35 laptops.

Lynncroft Primary School in Eastwood had 20 laptops stolen at around 7.50pm on Wednesday.

A further 15 were stolen from West Bridgford Infants School in Avon Gardens between 5.45pm on Monday and 5.45am on Tuesday.

Two more schools, one in Bramcote and one in Nuthalll, also suffered attempted break-ins on Wednesday.

Chief Inspector Dave Bombroffe, of South Notts Police, said: "We want to hear from anyone who is offered a second-hand laptop in unusual circumstances, because it may have been stolen. Schools regularly security-mark their property, and we will be able to identify where it is from.

"If you do buy a second-hand laptop and it is stolen property, it will not only be confiscated but you will lose the money you spent on it. You could also find yourself arrested for handling stolen goods.

"At this stage, we have not established a definite link between these burglaries but we are not ruling out the possibility.

"Witnesses to the attempted break-in at the school in Nuthall have described seeing four males in a maroon Ford Mondeo.

"We want to hear from anyone who saw a vehicle matching this description in the Nuthall area last night, as well as from anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in or around these schools.

"These thieves have denied local children access to a key part of their educational development."

Anyone with any information about these burglaries, or the whereabouts of the laptops, should contact Notts Police on 0115 967 0999.

Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.