THE Waverley Safer Neighbourhood Team is giving advice to car owners after an upsurge of thefts from motor vehicles in the Farnham area.

“We have been out and about patrolling the affected areas and would just like to leave you with some simple safety advice regarding the safety of your vehicles,” said a post on the Waverley Beat (Surrey Police) Facebook page.

“Most vehicle crime is preventable. It can take as little as 10 seconds for a thief to steal something from your car. The best way to protect your belongings is to lock your car whenever you leave it.” Other tips include:

• Removing everything from the car; don’t even leave a jacket where it can be seen.

• Closing the sunroof along with the windows when you leave.

• Not storing things in the boot; take them with you.

• Storing car ownership information in your home, not your car.

• Having a routine to ensure you always take the keys out of the ignition.

• Taking removable stereos and sat nav equipment with you.

• In addition, using secure (theft resistant) number plates can make your plates less attractive to thieves.

• Where you park can make a big difference to the safety of your car and your belongings.

• Locking your vehicle when not using it.