A series of thefts from cars has prompted a warning from police.

Officers in Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade said they had been told of three cases last week of thieves stealing cash, jewellery or tools from cars, most of which had been left unlocked.

They took to Facebook to urge drivers to lock their vehicles, avoid leaving valuables on display and, for tradespeople, ensure tools are engraved or security marked.

Police wrote: “There are a lot more preventative measures which can be taken with regards to safely securing your vehicles and tools, but this post is to raise awareness of this and prevent further crimes from happening.”

Over the border in Gloucestershire, detectives issued a warning last month after almost 50 cases of work vans being targeted by thieves across the county.

Det Supt Steve Bean said: “A significant number of expensive power tools and high-end branded hand-tools have been stolen from people such as builders, carpenters, plumbers and mechanics who are trying to make an honest living during difficult times. Some of the items may be unique to a particular trade and can sometimes be quite hard to replace.”