SAVVY thieves are using stolen sat-navs to burgle their victims’ homes.

Now a leading Kirklees councillor is warning people in the area they could fall prey to the tactic if they programme the gadgets with their home address.

Mehboob Khan, leader of Kirklees Council’s Labour group, issued the plea after an incident in which a thief stole a car and sat-nav in Robin Hoods Bay.

The thief then used the gadget, which was programmed with directions, to burgle the owner’s house in Cleckheaton.

Clr Khan said: “This relatively new crime is on the up.

“Cars get stolen when the owners are away from home.

“The thieves know not only that the owners away from home, but, by the sat-nav, exactly where home is and that they can get there in the owner’s car.

“In the meantime, the owner knows that they are the victim of car theft, but not that their house has been burgled as well.

“This could easily be avoided. It’s not as if people need to do it – we know where we live.”