Motorists - lock your doors!
Police are warning motorists in Newark not to leave handbags or other valuable items on the passenger seat of their vehicle.
The message comes after two attempted thefts from cars were reported as having taken place within minutes of each other on Thursday.
Both incidents occurred as lone women motorists waited at traffic lights at the junction of London Road and Bowbridge Road at around 8.15pm.
Both motorists reported that two men had attempted to open the front passenger side door, but the cars had been locked on each occasion.
A description of one of the offenders has been given to police. He is described as a white male with an unshaven and unkempt appearance, aged between 30-40 years old and around 5ft 8ins tall. He was wearing a charcoal hooded top.
Inspector Mark Burrell, of Newark Police, said: “The first thing to point out is that these are isolated incidents which occurred within a matter minutes of each other at the same location.
"However, it does emphasise the need to take some simple crime prevention steps to avoid being targeted in this way.
“Please keep valuable items out of sight and even put handbags in the boot, if possible.
"You may feel you are secure while you are driving, but remember the vehicle may be stationary for a minute or more at traffic lights, and it only takes a second or two for someone to open an unlocked car door and to grab a bag or phone, for example."
Anyone who witnessed either of the two incidents on Thursday evening or has information about them should telephone Nottinghamshire Police on 0300 300 99 99.
Alternatively, call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Between April 1 and November 30 2010, there were 169 thefts of and thefts from vehicles in the Newark area, compared to 240 over the same period in 2009.
That equates to a reduction of 71 incidents, or 29.7%.
Forcewide, incidents of vehicle crime have fallen from 7,815 between April 1 and November 30 2009 to 5,727 incidents so far this year, equating to 2,088 fewer victims - a reduction of 26.7%, the second highest vehicle crime reduction rate of all 43 forces in England and Wales.
