THIEVES targeted five vehicles in less than two weeks at a town centre multi-storey car park.

Property was taken after windows were smashed at the Wyvern Theatre car park during the crime spree.

A couple in their 60s, who were parked in a disabled bay, with a blue disabled badge clearly displayed in their windscreen, had their satellite navigation system taken from a passenger window.

The grandmother-of-two from South Swindon, who does not want to be named, said: “I think people should be made aware that someone is going around the car park looking to steal.

“It’s very frustrating as we hadn’t been gone that long. It’s the inconvenience as much as anything.

“It was hard to find a place which sold and could replace the window with the right glass.”

Last night Detective Sergeant Jim Taylor, of Swindon Police, said: “Thieves target multi-storey car parks as it’s usually quiet and dark.

“We have a number of surveillance operations – both covert and overt – in place and are confident of catching the person or persons responsible.”

Swindon Police have said they are experiencing 15 to 20 car offences per week under their target in the town. Their target is set at policing car crime under 35 thefts per week.

Last month Swindon was named the safest place in the country for motor thefts for the second year running.

Figures published in Endsleigh’s annual Motor Theft Index, based on an analysis of motor claims, put the town at the top of the list for holding onto your vehicle.

Results show the borough came top ahead of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire and Solihull in the Midlands.

A spokesman for Swindon Council, which runs the car park, said: “We are working very closely with the community support team and the police and we are putting extra enforcement teams in the car park.

“We are also putting more posters out to warn drivers about leaving valuables in their cars.

“According to reports we receive from the police, the majority of cars that have been broken into have had sat-navs or bags on display, so it is important that members of the public keep such items out of sight.”

Any information about the car thefts can be passed onto police, by calling the crime targeting team on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers, where information can be left anonymously, on 0800 555 111.