Motorists in East Cambs are being urged to remove valuables from their vehicles overnight following a recent increase in car crime in the district.

October traditionally sees a rise in vehicle crime so officers in Ely are urging people not to give criminals easy pickings.

When officers spot a vulnerable vehicle, they will send an information pack to the owners including a letter, information on Immobilise, a post card with crime prevention tips and an internal car mirror hanger which warns crooks that valuables have been removed.

Tradesmen will also be targeted with officers reminding drivers not to leave expensive tools in their vans overnight.

Community safety officer Sue Loaker said: “Most thieves operate on a time basis, the longer it would take to gain entry the better the chance they will not bother attempting and move on to a less secure vehicle.”

“We would urge motorists to always ensure that they do not leave valuables in their vehicles, and remove anything that may tempt a thief to break in.

“An empty box, bag, or even suction mark from a sat nav can be enough to encourage a criminal to smash into your car or van. Even if they leave empty-handed, it can cost the victim a huge amount to repair their vehicle.

“There have also been a lot of incidents where power tools have been stolen from work vans when they are left parked up for the night. Not only are they expensive to replace but you are also risking losing out on potential work.”