DRIVERS are being warned to keep their vehicles locked after a spate of thefts from unlocked cars in Cirencester.

Police have recorded an increase in the crime and have been patrolling the town, speaking to owners who have carelessly left their vehicles unlocked.

Overnight between Saturday June 8 and the following day a TomTom sat nav worth £100 was stolen from a silver Volvo XC90 parked on a driveway on Savory Way.

Another sat nav was stolen around the same time from a Land Rover Freelander on Pheasant Way.

A Ford Puma parked on Ashcroft Road was also entered and searched, but nothing was stolen.

All three cars were left unlocked.

Police found 12 cars unlocked on North Home Road, Cirencester, and five on Savory Way, last Thursday, June 6.

Cirencester police Sergeant Garret Gloyn said officers had recently seen and increase in crime across the Cotswolds, which was largely down to thefts from vehicles.

“Approximately half of these are from vehicles which have been left insecure,” he said.

“These offences would be very easy to prevent if only owners would take the simple precaution of locking their car and keeping valuables out of sight.”

Cirencester Town Council ward member for Chesterton Cllr Roly Hughes has also set up signs on Cranhams Lane and Bathurst Road warning car owners to keep their vehicles safe.

Anyone with any information about thefts from vehicles is asked to call 101.