POLICE today warned people to take basic crime prevention measures after around 20 incidents involving vehicles and garages over the past few nights.Officers investigating the incidents cannot rule out the possibility of a gang working in the Nacton, Kirton and edge of Ipswich area – but say residents are not helping themselves as many of the cars were left unlocked.

POLICE today warned people to take basic crime prevention measures after around 20 incidents involving vehicles and garages over the past few nights.

Officers investigating the incidents cannot rule out the possibility of a gang working in the Nacton, Kirton and edge of Ipswich area - but say residents are not helping themselves as many of the cars were left unlocked.

A police spokeswoman said: "At the moment we are keeping an open mind, but there are similarities in some of these incidents and each of the crimes is being looked at in detail.

"We cannot rule out a link between them at this stage and it is unusual for such a high volume of crime over a few days."

The crimes happened between Thursday night and the early hours of Monday.

At Kirton, at least four vehicles were broken in to in the Bucklesham Road area.

A few miles away at Nacton, a spate of incidents included the theft of a black Ford Fiesta - later found but damaged inside - and an off-road quad bike from a garage in The Street.

A black fabric laptop bag, containing personal items and paperwork, was also stolen from a car parked in The Street, and a silver Mercedes, red Honda and red Volvo parked nearby were all searched and a purse stolen.

Thieves also took a black wallet containing cash and cards from a Toyota at Orwell Park.

In Bucklesham Road, Ipswich, a Toyota Yaris, registration X154 RHK, was stolen from a garage, a handbag from another vehicle, and another car was damaged inside as thieves tried to steal it.

Thieves also struck in Meadow Crescent, Ipswich, hitting three cars - taking cash, CDs and a tyre pressure gauge - and also stole two cycles. In Murrills Road, DVDs, CDs, cosmetics and climbing equipment was taken from a car.

A Porsche convertible was stolen from a garage in Mount Drive and found later burnt out in Raeburn Road South.

The spokeswoman said: "In many of the theft incidents vehicles were left unlocked and with valuables - purses, CDs and so on - on clear view."

She urged drivers to consider basic security when leaving their vehicles - locking car doors, closing windows and sunroofs, and never leaving keys in the ignition, locking garages and cars inside them, and activating steering locks.

Handbags, purses, cameras, phones and similar items should be removed and not "hidden" under seats, coats or newspapers, giving opportunist thieves an easy target.

Anyone with information about any of the incidents is asked to call Felixstowe CID on 01473 613500.