Police have issued a warning to car owners after a spate of thefts from vehicles.

Hertfordshire Constabulary is investigating several recent reports of thefts from motor vehicles in the Leavesden area.

In an email to residents via the force's OWL messaging service, police said all of the vehicles that were broken into had been left unlocked.

The police have CCTV footage of a person wandering down a street trying every single car door handle.

Investigations are ongoing to track down the suspect but in the meantime, police are urging drivers to take a few extra seconds to ensure their vehicle is locked properly.

The email from police to residents said: "There has been an unfortunate spate of theft from motor vehicle crimes occuring in the Leavesden area.

"Whilst investigations are underway I would like to take this time to spread awareness of this.

"ALL of these incidents have occurred to vehicles that have been left unlocked and insecure and is the main way they occur in general. It is easy to forget, or to think you have locked your vehicle and not check.

"I would like to remind you all to just double and triple check your vehicle when you leave it, even if you are just putting the shopping away.

"We have CCTV footage showing the suspect simply just walking along trying every single car door handle on their way, and an alarming number of vehicles open with just a tug of the handle, because they have been left insecure.

"One such vehicle was left open due to someone putting their shopping away and that was all it took.

"Please, please, I implore you to take the extra few seconds to ensure your vehicle is locked to help prevent these crimes from ever taking place, and more importantly protect your belongings."