POLICE are warning people to lock their cars after seven were broken into across Basildon in one weekend.

Officers are investigating the spate of break-ins, which caused hundreds of pounds of damage.

Items taken included satnavs, cash and sunglasses.

Leanne Martin’s partner, who works as a cabbie, missed out on a day’s work, after yobs smashed their way into his cab which was parked in Swanstead, in the early hours of Friday morning.

She said: “My partner was woken up at about 2am, but he did not knowwhat it was.

“He could hear something at the back of the house, but he did not know what it was because it was so dark and cloudy.

“When he went out to work on Friday morning, all the doors on his hackney carriage were open and the passenger door windowwas smashed.

“They had thrown a large rock through the window, which had hit the other door and landed on the driver’s seat.

“They even tried to take my son’s car seat.”

The thieves only managed to get away with cigarettes and a bottle of half-used aftershave.

Ms Martin added: “It has not only cost us money to get it fixed, but he lost a weekend’s work – all for half a bottle of aftershave.”

Police are warning residents to ensure their cars are locked and valuables are kept hidden.

Acting sergeant Samantha Creighton, from the Basildon neighbourhood policing team, said: “Our message is to try to park your vehicle within sight of your home.

“Lock and alarm your vehicle and keep valuables out of sight or remove them from the car if possible.”

Anyone with information about the break-ins can call Basildon police on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

 

- MONTAGUE Street,
Basildon, overnight between
February 14 and 15: Crooks
broke into a black Ford
Galaxy. They searched every
pocket and compartment of
the car and stole a sat nav and
£5 cash.
- Montague Street, Basildon,
between 10pm and 11.30pm
on February 14. Thieves broke
into a black Renault Clio.
They searched the car and
stole sunglasses and £30
cash.
- The Fold, Basildon,
overnight between February
14 and 15: Suspects stole a
triple set of aluminium ladders
from the roof of a white Toyota
Hiace van by unscrewing
clamps.
- Liddell Drive, Basildon,
overnight between February
14 and 15: Thieves broke in to
a grey Vauxhall Mokka. They
ransacked the car and stole
sunglasses and £10 cash.
- Miles Gray Road, Basildon,
between 7.30pm and 9.20pm
on February 15: Suspects
broke in to a blue Citroen
Saxo and stole the car stereo.
- Miles Gray Road, Basildon,
between 3pm and 9.30pm on
February 15: Crooks broke in
to a silver Peugeot 206,
causing damage to the side
door.
They stole the stereo.