POLICE have released advice after a number of vehicles have been broken in to.

Five vans in the South Ham and Buckskin areas of the town have been affected with tools stolen from four.

All of these break-ins have occurred since August 21.

In an appeal on Facebook, Basingstoke Neighbourhoods Policing Team have released the following advice:

  • When leaving your car, close all windows and lock your car. 
  • Upon locking your vehicle try your car door to ensure it is actually locked. 
  • When parking at home, use your garage. If you don't have a garage, park in a well-lit area if available.
  • Don't leave anything on display in your vehicle. 
  • Take all your personal possessions with you, including tools. 
  • Remove sat nav holders and visible sat nav ring marks from windscreens. 
  • Leave the glove box open to show there's nothing inside. 
  • Fit an alarm or immobiliser to your car. 
  • Do not store your car's documents in the car. 
  • Secure your wheels using locking wheel nuts. 
  • Record the details of your property on the Immobilise website.

They added: “Please remember that most offences of theft from vehicle are opportunist.

“If valuable possessions (e.g. handbags, laptops, sat navs, iPods, mobile phones, cameras) are left on show inside a vehicle, it is much more likely to be targeted by thieves.

“Even items of little value, such as shopping bags and clothing, may tempt a potential thief to break into the vehicle to see whether they contain anything worth stealing.”

Anyone with any information on any of the incidents are asked to contact 101.