Motorists in Derry are being advised by police in the city to remove valuable items from unattended vehicles, particularly at night.
The warning follows a number of incidents that occurred during the hours of darkness being been reported in recent days.
These had included vehicles being entered and ransacked, with items such as sat navs, a camera and money among items stolen.
A PSNI spokesperson reminded motorist cars should always be locked and all valuables removed, even if it was parked close to the owner’s home or in their own driveway.
The spokesperson added: “Leaving valuables, such as your handbag, wallet, CD player, laptop or phone on view in your vehicle is like an open invitation to opportunist thieves.
“If they see something valuable on view, they will simply break the window to get it.
“Taking just a few moments can significantly improve your chances of not becoming a victim of this type of crime. Improved car security features such as alarms, immobilisers and tracking devices can also help protect your vehicle and your valuables.”
The spokesperson added: “As it only takes a matter of seconds to break into a car, we would also urge the public to promptly report all suspicious activity they notice near vehicles, or car alarms that have been activated, as this will help to deter and help us to detect those involved in this type of crime.”
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