CAR CRIME is soaring in the Basildon Division with more than £50,000 worth of vehicles stolen in the past ten days.

Concerned police bosses are again urging motorists to "Lock it or lose it" in a bid to curb the problem, and will also be putting up stickers in high-crime areas.

Thefts from motor vehicles is also on the rise with the public increasingly encouraging opportunist crooks by leaving valuables on display.

The thefts appear to be most frequent over weekends with cars valued at £29,000 being taken on September 18 and 19, and £14,000 taken during last weekend.

On top of this there was also a well planned raid on a Mitsubishi dealership, at Essex Park, totalling over £21,000.

While car thefts are most prevalent in central Basildon and Laindon, you are most likely to get your vehicle broken into in Pitsea.

Criminal vandalism to cars is most common in central Basildon.