Items totalling an estimated £1m are believed to have been taken in 33 raids throughout Surrey, Essex, Kent and Hertfordshire.

The burglaries include the break-in at Chelsea star Sterling's home last year while the 28-year-old was at the World Cup in Qatar with England.

Albanian nationals Alfred Isufi, 48, Gerard Kalaja, 22, and Henri Osmani, 44, are wanted for questioning by Surrey Police. They are believed to still be in the UK and have links to Essex and north London.

Surrey Police detectives are set to make a public appeal to trace the men on BBC's Crimewatch.

Detective Inspector James Ansell told the broadcaster: "Investigating burglary dwellings is a priority for Surrey Police and we will be relentless in pursing these offenders."

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The appeal comes after a date was set for the trial of a man charged with 33 counts of conspiracy to commit burglary. One of those counts is linked to the break-in at Sterling's home in Oxshott, Leatherhead, on December 3, according to Surrey Police.

Sterling flew home from Qatar to be with his family after news of the incident reached him, missing England's 3-0 win over Senegal on December 4.

Support poured in for the former Manchester City forward on social media at the time, including from pundit Gary Lineker.

Emiliano Krosi, 23, of Ditton Court Road in Southend-on-Sea, is facing a two-week trial at Guildford Crown Court on 14 February next year. He is yet to enter pleas to any of the charges.