Motorists using a town centre car park were today urged to check their cars during work breaks following a spate of thefts.

Six cars parked in Great Oaks multi-storey car park were targeted by thieves in just a few hours.

Drivers returned to their cars from work to find windscreen wipers, wing mirrors and bodywork prised off, amounting to hundreds of pounds of damage.

Thieves had also forced open the doors on a number of the cars.

Both wing mirrors were ripped off an R-reg Vauxhall Astra and the aerial bent back, causing £250-worth of damage, and the wing mirrors, windscreen wipers and aerial were stolen from a Fiat Panda 4X4, causing £150 damage.

Two tyres on a Vauxhall Corsa were slashed, body work peeled away and the rear windscreen wipers pulled off and the front ones bent. The aerial, two tyres and a hubcap were also stolen.

The total cost is estimated at £530.

The wing mirrors and aerial were taken from a Rover 200, at a cost of £180, and the passenger door trim, worth £100, stolen from a Seat Ibiza.

Both wing mirrors and front and back windscreen wipers were taken from a Rover 216, causing damage worth £150.

Police warned motorists not to leave valuables in their cars and to check their vehicles regularly.

PC Kevin Saltwell said: "A lot of cars on one floor were broken into and a lot of things taken.

"We would say to people not to leave valuables and to check their cars regularly if they are away for any length of time."

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