Lock it when you leave it

St.Helens Council and Merseyside Police are warning people to be on their guard over opportunist thieves taking valuables from parked vehicles.

More than 9 incidents have so far been reported in one week in the Bold, Clock Face and Sutton areas.

Peter Mallett. Neighbourhood Crime & Justice Coordinator with St.Helens Council said:  "There has been a steep rise in these incidents recently and most are due to drivers leaving their vehicles unlocked when they pop into a shop.   Many of these thefts are so easily preventable if drivers remember to keep their car locked even though they are only away for a few minutes."

Incidents include thefts of sat navs and work tools.  One car was locked but the driver had left £400 in a wallet on the dashboard and the window was smashed to get at the money.

Another was at a post office where the owner left their vehicle insecure with £1000 in a hold all, which also contained documentation and keys to the post office.

At Bold business centre £700 in cash was stolen as a thief smashed a van window while on Peckers Hill Road a taxi driver left his cab unlocked and his mobile phone and takings were stolen.