Thieves have broken into 11 cars in just one night in the heart of Epsom.

On its Facebook page, Epsom and Ewell Beat posted today that the thefts from motor vehicles had occurred in and around the Horton area.

The post said most of the offences happened overnight between Sunday, September 14, and Monday, September 15, with further offences occurring in the evening or overnight on Monday, September 15, to Tuesday, September 16.

The page read: "The incidents regarding the vehicle breaks involved insecure vehicles targeted with items stolen from within - sat navs/change etc.

"Although one offence has seen the driver’s side window smashed using brick as a holdall was on display on the passenger seat."

"Please don't take chances. Lock up and keep your possessions out of sight."

It continued: "Thankfully, most vehicle crime is opportunistic and therefore easy to prevent."

According to the crime map for Epsom and Ewell provided by police.uk, which uses statistics from Surrey Police, eight bike thefts were reported in the central part of the borough in July, as well as three incidents of vehicle crime.

The following tips were provided by the police on their Facebook page:

  • Always lock your vehicle and close the windows and sunroof
  • Remove all personal possessions - not just sat navs, laptops and mobile phones - but also loose change and clothing
  • Look after your car keys and keep them out of sight and secure, even when you are at home
  • Secure number plates with tamper proof or clutch head screws
  • If possible, park your car in a garage and lock both the car and the garage
  • When away from home, try to park in a well-lit, open location, or a police approved ‘ParkMark’ car park
  • If you have an older car, or one without an alarm, get one fitted, or use a steering lock
  • Fit a tracking device to your vehicle and ensure you know how to activate it
  • Have the vehicle’s registration number or vehicle identification number (VIN) etched on each window
  • Lock the back doors while driving
  • Never leave personal documents in the vehicle’s cab
  • Never leave tools or equipment in your vehicle overnight
  • ‘High clearance’ vehicles are common targets for catalytic converter theft - mark yours to deter thieves
  • Security mark all your tools and equipment to make items uniquely identifiable
  • Do not buy cheap, second-hand tools from a building site - they may be stolen
  • Keep stops for fuel, food and other goods to a minimum. The fewer stops you need to make, leaving your vehicle unattended, the more secure it will be
  • Make sure you have fully comprehensive insurance for your vehicle. Thieves will often 'smash and grab' causing damage that is expensive to repair and may take you off the road for several days