POLICE in Winchester say they are becoming increasingly concerned about the easy pickings for opportunist thieves left by careless motorists in their vehicles.

Since the start of March, more than £10,000 worth of tools have been stolen from vehicles in the region - normally after the owners left the items on show in their vans or cars.

In particular, workman's vans are being targeted by thieves who can snatch thousands of pounds worth of equipment from just one vehicle.

This weekend police in the area received reports of a string of thefts at the Sutton Scotney services on the A34.

Four vehicles at the Travelodge car park were targeted last Thursday between 9pm and 11.30pm. Thieves made off with a haul of £2,925 worth of tools after smashing their way into a Citroen van by breaking a side window.

In the second attack, locks were punched out of a P-reg Ford Escort van and property including two battery drills worth £350 each and drill bits worth £120 were taken.

A Vauxhall Astra was also targeted and after forcing the locks, the opportunists took belongings including a toolbox containing £100 worth of tools.

A window of a Vauxhall Vectra was also smashed so the thieves could get their hands on two cases of alarm demonstration equipment.

It's not the first time Hampshire police has warned workmen not to leave valuable equipment in their vehicles - but motorists are still not heeding their advice.

Between January and February this year, scores of vans were raided by thieves travelling down from the Midlands, specifically to target tool-laden vehicles.

The tools were then loaded into containers and shipped overseas for an easy sale.

But the thefts did stop after police raided a house near Birmingham and uncovered a haul of thousands of pounds worth of equipment. The culprits were taken out of circulation.

Officers in Winchester are again advising people not to leave anything valuable in their vehicles if possible, especially overnight, and to hide or cover-up things which cannot be removed.

Anyone with information on the latest incidents should contact Winchester police on 0845 045 45 45.