We've all heard about thefts that leave you scratching your head - things that make people say "If it isn't nailed down..."

Now drivers have been warned that they could have their cars broken into for literally anything they leave on show, after West Yorkshire Police revealed a top five of strange items stolen from vehicles last year.

Urging people not to leave items on show, the police revealed that a pack of bird seed and a bag of crisps were among the hauls in some car break-ins.

Unusual thefts also included a deck chair, old cups and saucers and an umbrella.

Chris Joyce, Force Crime Prevention Officer for West Yorkshire Police, said: "This type of crime is one that can be easily prevented at no cost whatsoever other than a few seconds of time. The consequences of not removing items from your vehicle on leaving it unoccupied can be very upsetting and frustrating.

"Not having the use of your vehicle whilst it is being repaired can have a significant impact on your day to day life, both on a personal and professional level, and this is in addition to having something stolen from you needlessly.

"It’s very easy to think ‘it won’t happen to me’ or ‘I’ll pop back out to the car to get my stuff later’, but later may be too late. It takes seconds to remove items from your vehicle and lock it, the same amount of time it takes a thief to steal them.

"Crime prevention is everyone’s business and it’s vital that we do all that we can to reduce the opportunity for crime to occur."

Tips which drivers can follow to protect their property and deter thieves include:

  • Never leave a car door unlocked or a window or a sunroof open, even at a petrol station or outside of a shop
  • Remove everything from your car on leaving it unoccupied, including route finders, mobile phones, wallets/purses, money, CD’s, clothing, personal computers and documentation
  • Satellite navigation system holders should not be left attached to the windscreen, as this advertises the fact that you may have a device, and don’t forget to wipe the suction marks off the windscreen when you remove it

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