CAR crooks smashed their way into a string of cars across Ipswich in the past week to pinch valuables left inside. In the fifth part of the Evening Star's weekly campaign to highlight crime spots in Suffolk's county town, we reveal how 27 motorists fell victim to theft in just seven days.

By Lisa Baxter

CAR crooks smashed their way into a string of cars across Ipswich in the past week to pinch valuables left inside. In the fifth part of the Evening Star's weekly campaign to highlight crime spots in Suffolk's county town, we reveal how 27 motorists fell victim to theft in just seven days.

THIEVES drove off in two cars pinched off the street overnight in Ipswich before dumping one of them.

And a motorcycle owner was left bikeless when crooks stole his Kawasaki in the early hours of the morning.

The owners of the three vehicles were among 27 motorist targeted by car criminals between Thursday, March 7, and Wednesday, March 13.

The other 24 owners all had valuables pinched from inside their cars or vans.

With precise information on every incident of theft from (and of) vehicles over a seven-day spell provided by Ipswich police, we reveal exactly where car crooks struck and appeal for information to help find the culprits.

The figures show that by far the most popular item pinched was audio equipment. In 17 of 24 thefts from vehicles in Ipswich, stereos, CDs, radio cassette players or speakers were taken. Power tools were another popular item for pilferers. On four separate occasions, thieves broke into panel vans to swipe costly trade equipment.

Two BMW cars were targeted days apart by trophy hunters who stripped one vehicle of its badge and grille and the other of fog lamps.

The latest figures are an improvement on the situation two weeks ago when our Crimeweek survey revealed that 40 cars had items pinched from them in Ipswich over an eight-day stretch. Five vehicles were stolen in the same spell.

This week's map of car crime shows that two parts of the town escaped the attention of thieves altogether – Chantry and the Christchurch Park area.

Crime prevention officers have advised motorists to remove items from sight when they leave their vehicles so as not to tempt opportunist crooks and to park in well-lit areas.

"The best thing is to lock everything valuable out of sight and don't leave anything valuable inside," said Tracey Hardy, a crime prevention officer at Ipswich police.

Anyone with information about the crimes listed here, or any others, should call the numbers given.