POLICE are again urging drivers not leave valuables in their vehicles, following yet more car crime.

The Winchester and East Hampshire areas have suffered an unusually high level of vehicle crime over the past two weeks.

During the first two weeks in November, police recorded 65 cases, far in excess of the usual level, with almost all the thefts happening to parked cars. 

Half the crimes took place on the evening of Tuesday, November 2, including 22 thefts taking place in the Greenfields area of Alton. 

Curiously, a further 17 cases occurred on the following Tuesday evening.

In nearly half of all cases, tools were stolen, such as hedge trimmers, angle grinders, drills, strimmers, nail guns and circular saws.

Inspector Steve Sergeant of Alresford Police Station, who heads the area's "Safer Vehicles" campaign, said: "This is very disappointing.  We have issued loads of publicity, asking the public not to leave tools in their cars and vans, as these things are so frequently stolen. 

"We have seen some really pleasing reductions in vehicle crime recently but, if people continue to leave valuable items in their cars and vans, this kind of crime will soon become a big problem again."

Other items stolen included several mobile phones, a laptop computer, CD players, cash and number plates.

"Owing to the large amount of property which has been stolen, we believe that someone must know who is committing this crime and where the property is being sold on," he said.

"Our message to motorists is that, although there is generally less vehicle crime these days, it will never be safe to leave your possessions inside a locked car or van, and this particularly applies to attractive and saleable items such as power tools, phones and computer equipment." 

He added: "Vehicle crime could quickly be eliminated if no one were to leave these items in their cars and vans."

This comes a week after Alton police revealed that more than £10,000 worth of tradesmen's equipment had been stolen from vehicles around the town in just one week.

Anyone with information should call Pc Michael Ashworth at Alton Police Station on 0845 045 45 45 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.