Owners of keyless cars have been issued with a warning after five high-value cars, including BMWs and Mercedes, were stolen from Swindon in the same week.

The cars, which all operate without keys, have been the victim of a national theft problem in recent months, but this is the first time that a rise in keyless car theft has been seen in Wiltshire.

On March 7, two BMWs and a Lexus were all stolen from driveways of separate properties in Broome Manor.

Just four days later, two Mercedes were then also stolen in Swindon, one from Broome Manor and another from the Coate area.

Although it has not been confirmed, police suspect that these thefts may be related and have issued urgent advice to keyless car owners in Swindon.

"Enquiries in relation to these incidents are ongoing and we would also urge anyone with information to get in touch by calling 101," said a spokesperson for Wiltshire Police.

Urgent advice issued by police

Spare key-fobs

Make sure you know where your spare key-fobs are at all times and ensure that all keyless fobs are protected in the same was as the main key.

If rarely used, consider removing the battery from the spare key-fob.

Think about where you leave you key-fob at home, as the more central the location within the home the better.

Do not leave key-fobs near the front door.

Locks

Steering wheel locks, gear level locks or a pedal box are all advice and can be easily sourced.

Although they are not full-proof, they offer increased protection.

Fitting a tracking device to your vehicle could also make it more likely to be recovered if stolen.

Home CCTV

If you have CCTV cameras covering your property, make sure that your car is parked within view of them and that they are clearly visible. This could be a great deterrent.

If you don't have CCTV footage, consider parking your car in a safe space like a garage or behind bollards/gates.

Placing non-keyless vehicles behind the keyless vehicle could also be a way of making theft difficult.

Insurance Cover

Make sure that you have an appropriate insurance policy to cover your losses in the event of a theft.

Valuables

Do not leave any valuable items on show in your car.