Police today urged the public to secure possessions against theft from their vehicles.
It follows a report of more than 300 incidents in Basildon this month.
Acting Sgt John Rout said Basildon police want to make the town a safer and better place to live, but need the public to "assist us in assisting them".
He said: "One of the main problems is items left on show.
"If there is nothing to steal, then the thieves do not bother breaking in.
"If there are two cars and there is a briefcase on the seat of one, that's the one that will be targeted.
"The public have got to work with us to prevent this type of crime. They are our eyes and ears and our customers and we will try our best to solve all these crimes, but we need help to prevent them."
The main areas that have been targeted by thieves in the district is Laindon Link, in Laindon, and Roundacre and Nethermayne, in Basildon, and police suspect this is because of large car parks in these areas.
Published Friday October 25, 2002
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