Drivers in a town which has seen a spate of car thefts are urged to be vigilant after more were stolen.

The most recent incidents in Ashford saw a BMW 520D Sport and a Mercedes GLC 220 taken from two separate driveways.

The thefts happened in the early hours of yesterday morning (October 24) in Willesborough.

But over the last two weeks, several vehicles have been stolen from people's homes.

This includes a white Mercedes stolen from Primrose Drive in Kingsnorth, and a BMW stolen from Snowbell Road.

Another car - a BMW 7 Series - was stolen in Acorn Close.

The thefts have spurred officers to warn drivers on how to protect themselves against criminals by not leaving car keys on view.

Drivers of cars with keyless entry systems have also been warned to keep their keys away from their cars as criminals are able to connect with the keys.

Police say drivers should check if their entry fobs can be turned off overnight and store them away from any household entry points.

Car owners can also store their fobs in special bags, which can be bought from retailers, to prevent any unwanted communication between the vehicle and its keys

Inspector Ben Howard from the Ashford community safety unit said burglars are opportunist thieves, who will be on the lookout for easy properties to target.

"Residents can help to protect themselves by making sure keys, cash and expensive items are not visible from the outside their homes," he said.

"It is also important to store electronic car keys in a signal blocking pouch so they can’t be scanned by criminals.

"Other ways in which people can protect themselves against thieves include double-locking uPVC doors and windows, using timer switches on lights and radios to make it look as though someone is home."

Anyone with information about any of these offences is asked to call police on 01843 222289.

Alternatively, call the independent charity crime stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or complete the online form.