Police are urging car owners to lock their vehicles when they are left overnight following a spate of thefts from vehicles in the Stroud area.

The advice comes after the neighbourhood policing team and police cadets took part in a recent vehicle safety operation in Rodborough as part of Neighbourhood Policing Week.

In a bid to reassure the public and help prevent further crimes, officers and cadets checked for any unlocked cars and found 20 vehicles had been left insecure.

The owners were then located and made aware.

As well as ensuring your vehicle is locked, police are also advising people not to leave valuable items or anything of sentimental value inside or on view.

Mobile phones, coins for the car park, sunglasses, packs of medication or other items that can earn quick cash are irresistible to the opportunist thief. Wallets, handbags, purses, and credit cards should never be left in an unattended vehicle.

In addition, vehicle registration and insurance documents should never be left in your car as this could allow a thief to pretend to be the owner of your vehicle and sell it on.

For more advice on ways to help keep your vehicle safe, visit Gloucestershire Constabulary's crime prevention page. 

Anyone who witnesses suspicious activity taking place and can see offenders nearby is asked to report this immediately to police by calling 999.