MOTORISTS are being warned by Kent Police about a Sat Nav thief who struck in St Margaret’s at Cliffe near Dover.

More than £1,000 worth of satellite navigation equipment was stolen from two vehicles in Royston Gardens, and one in Kingsdown Road overnight between Sunday May 7 and Monday May 8.

Police are advising the best way to reduce the risk of theft is to remove the Sat Nav and the cradle when leaving a vehicle unattended.

This includes leaving the car while shopping or overnight on your driveway, even when going to the back of a car or van to make a delivery.

Det Insp Kenny Ingram said: “Thieves are opportunists and it only takes a minute to break into your vehicle and snatch any of your belongings on view.

"Theft and damage to vehicles is happening when owners have left their Sat Nav cradle attached to the windscreen or on the vehicle’s dashboard.

"Seeing this, thieves will break in to see if the equipment has been left in the vehicle or simple steal the cradle. From Sat Nav to spare change, if it’s on view, they will steal it”.

"The best advice is, don't leave anything in your car. Thieves will look under the seats, in the glove compartment and the boot.

What else can you do?

* You can register items like Sat Nav, laptops and mobile phones and even cycles, free of charge at www.immobilise.com, so if it is stolen the police will have a better chance of identifying and returning it.

* Always shut and lock the doors, windows and sunroofs of your vehicle and activate any alarm systems.

* If you are considering buying a Sat Nav system consider a PDA (hand held) version that you can remove easily from the vehicle when it’s parked.

If you have any information about who is committing car crime, call Kent Police on 01304 240055.Alternatively call Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. This call is free, your anonymity is guaranteed and you could be eligible for a reward.