People living in a Norwich neighbourhood are on high alert after several homes were targeted during a spate of overnight break-ins.

Homeowners in the NR3 area say they were awoken by the sound of someone attempting to smash their way into their homes.

A woman living in Peacock Street, who did not want to be named, said her house guest found a man in their kitchen at 3am on Monday after smashing through their back door to gain access.

"He heard the sound of smashing glass and went downstairs to check it out," she said.

The back door was smashed so the suspect could gain entryThe back door was smashed so the suspect could gain entry (Image: Contributed)

"He found this random guy in the house, looking in our dishwasher - which was weird.

"This guy said that he had seen someone had broken into our house and that he was here to secure the area.

"He was obviously the one who had broken in."

The suspect then fled the scene.

A house was broken into in Peacock Street at 3am on MondayA house was broken into in Peacock Street at 3am on Monday (Image: Google)

Later that morning the homeowner took to the local NR3 Facebook page to warn neighbours about what had happened. 

It was there that she saw that other houses in the neighbourhood had posted footage of the suspect, who had also targeted homes in the area.

"Now we are waiting for forensics to come and swab for fingerprints," she said.

"We know that he broke into a couple of other houses - it wasn't just ours - but the damage was quite bad.

"Luckily no one was hurt."

The suspect also damaged a doorbell and some plant pots in Wingfield RoadThe suspect also damaged a doorbell and some plant pots in Wingfield Road (Image: Google)

Norfolk police have confirmed that two incidents were reported to them in the area early on Monday morning - and within just over an hour of each other.

The first report of criminal damage followed an incident at 1.49am in Wingfield Road, near Wensum Park, where a man damaged a video doorbell and plant pots.

Police were then called to Peacock Street, just off Cowgate near Anglia Square, at 3.09am, where the suspect broke in through the back door and was found in the kitchen. 

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A spokeswoman for Norfolk Police said: "Officers attended the scene and completed a thorough area search but the suspect was not located.

"Enquiries are ongoing to trace him."

Police are appealing for witnesses and ask that anyone with information contact them quoting crime reference 36/55241/24.