A woman was home sleeping when a thief broke into her Herarde Street home in Batemans Bay during the night on Tuesday.

Between 8.30pm on Tuesday and 6am on Wednesday, the offender used a bucket found on the front lawn to climb through a kitchen window.

Cash was stolen from the resident’s wallet but she wasn’t disturbed.

Police fingerprinted the scene.

Earlier in the week, between 1.50pm and 2.15pm on Monday, a house on Golf Links Drive in Batemans Bay was ransacked.

Nothing was stolen but police believe the offender forced a window open to access the house.

Meanwhile, three chickens were stolen from Broulee Public School on Tuesday night.

Between 6pm on Tuesday and 9.30am on Wednesday, the chicken thief cut a hole in a wall of the pen and stole three chickens.

During the night on Tuesday, someone also forced open a roller door of a farm shed in Moruya.

Nothing was stolen but police are still investigating the break-in.

Anyone with information about these break-ins is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Batemans Bay Police on 4472 0099.