SURREY Police has advised golf clubs across Surrey to empty their trophy cabinets to avoid further thefts.

Six clubs in Surrey have been targeted by thieves since last August, including Farnham and Hindhead golf clubs.

Detective Sergeant Lee Hazell has warned that golf club trophies have replaced lead church roofs as opportunistic thieves' target of choice.

He said: "They want to melt these trophies down and sell them. A lot of the older trophies are solid silver and they can be sold quickly for a profit without a trace.

"It is a real shame that clubs have to consider hiding their trophies but they are going to be a target for this sort of thing. We know golf clubs want to show off their trophies and the achievements of their members but that is the best way to ensure the safety of their trophies.

"The police are doing everything possible to crack down on these crimes but it is not possible for the force to continually patrol rural golf clubs.

"The sad fact is criminals evolve. They see an opening and they target it. For a while it was the lead in church roofs and now it's the silver in trophies."