Police in Hounslow are warning motorists to keep valuable items out of sight following a recent spate of motor vehicle crimes across the borough.

At least six vehicles were broken into on Monday (April 4), using bricks and stones to smash the windows, while parked on streets in Chiswick, Heston and Brentford.

Four of these took place in Prebend Gardens, Strand on the Green, Beverley Road and Pleydell Avenue, all in Chiswick, while another took place in Cherry Crescent in Brentford and at Ashmore Court in Heston.

According to Hounslow MPS on Twitter there have also been a number of thefts from motor vehicles in Feltham and Hounslow.

Police have been making door-to-door visits urging people to keep personal property out of view from opportunists as well as to ask residents to call with descriptions of groups of people, mainly on bikes, seen peering into cars and loitering.

Sergeant Dave Turtle of Turnham Green ward said police are facing a big problem with the recent rise of theft from vehicles with most of the crimes taking place in the evening.

The main concern is that people are leaving property of high value items such as laptops and mobile phones on display in their vehicles making them easy targets for criminals.

Bricks and small stones are being used to break car windows before making off with valuable items.

Sgt Turtle added: “We are interested to talk to people on 101 particularly people who have seen cyclists loitering and clearly looking through car windows as a sign of people who want to break in.

“Now getting to the point where more people are using vehicles and we urge them to keep their windows up and doors locked.

“Let’s be proactive about it and make sure to phone 101 if you see anything.”