POLICE are warning motorists to be vigilant after a spate of break-ins at beauty spots around the Winchester district.

Thieves broke into three cars on Saturday afternoon and made off with a bumper haul including designer goods, wallets and bankcards.

The window of a Fiat Stilo was smashed open in Micheldever forest just after Saturday lunchtime.

A Louis Vuitton shoulder bag worth £80 was snatched from underneath one of the front seats.

It contained a £60 Louis Vuitton purse, a pair of Gucci sunglasses worth £95, two chequebooks and a driving licence.

Later that afternoon, the car boot of a Nissan Micra was wrenched open at The Monument car park at Farley Mount. A white leather shoulder bag was taken, along with a suede purse and bankcards.

Just minutes later, a purse was snatched from a Vauxhall Zafira parked in Crabwood car park at Farley Mount after thieves forced their way in.

A spokesman for Hampshire police said: "If you leave your vehicle unattended do not leave anything in it, end of story. If you do, the chances are you are going to get it stolen. There are signs in these car parks warning people that thieves operate in the area and police regularly hand out leaflets there warning of the dangers but still, for some reason or another, people leave their property in their cars."