DETECTIVES have launched a fresh clampdown on car crime, following a spate of thefts from vehicles in Colchester.

Thieves have targeted 25 cars in the town since the start of February.

Det Insp Terry Balding, of Colchester CID, urged car owners to take simple precautions, such as removing sat navs and the stick-on cradles which alerted thieves a unit might be hidden in the car.

He explained: “This is not usually a high-value crime, but the damage caused in its commission and the inconvenience caused to the owners is considerable.

“We know the public can help by taking simple steps to reduce the chances of becoming a victim.

“If they have any information on who may be responsible or where stolen property is being sold, they can help, too, by contacting the Operation Index team.”

Det Insp Balding said the thefts from vehicles had been reported both in the town centre and outlying residential areas.

He added: “Thieves are targeting sat navs and tools, which are easily-transportable and disposable items worth stealing.

“Police have launched Operation Index to counter this rise in crime and identify the people responsible for committing it.

“The public can play their part in reducing the opportunity for thieves by ensuring sat nav and cradles or rings on the windscreen don’t advertise the presence of the sat nav.

“Just putting it in the glove box is no deterrent.”

Tradesmen are also being urged to remove tools overnight and also to mark vans to the effect that no tools were left inside.

Anyone who has been offered a cheap sat nav or tools in suspicious circumstances is asked to contact the team on 0300 3334444.