Police are warning motorists and business owners to be especially vigilant following a spate of thefts from cars across Lincoln.

Four arrests have now been made after 14 vehicles were targeted over a period of three days as thieves took advantage of unlocked doors and personal possessions on display.

The windows of seven vehicles at car dealership Beechwood Cars, in Outer Circle Road, were smashed and radios taken overnight on Saturday and a further radio was taken from a Citroen Xsara in Deacon Road on the same night.

Last Thursday evening vehicle parts were taken from a Transit Van after it was broken into in Winn Street and a wallet was taken from an unlocked Citroen Xsara in Sewell Road at some time between Thursday and Saturday.

At around 2.30am on Monday morning the passenger door of a Fiat Bravo was damaged in Lindum Terrace and CDs stolen, while the window of a Fiat Punto parked in Outer Circle Drive was smashed on the same night.

CDs were also taken from a Vauxhall Vectra in Winniffe Gardens, St Giles, after a car window was smashed and on the same night the window of a Vauxhall Astra was shattered in Flaxley Close, near Bunkers Hill.

Officers are telling motorists never to leave anything on display in vehicles, to always lock doors and to close windows.

Residents are also being advised to keep car keys out of sight, even inside properties, and remove sat navs and stereos from car interiors.

Anyone with information about any of the incidents should call Lincolnshire Police on (01522) 882222 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

For more on the car thefts, see Wednesday's Echo.