A TOTAL of 23 vehicles were found to have been left unlocked following a police operation in Magor and Undy to try and reduce thefts from vehicles.

Police community support officers patrolled the areas for three hours as part of Operation Handle to check vehicles and make sure they were secure.

And 23 vehicles were found that had been left unlocked while 27 vehicles were seen with valuables on display including golf clubs, laptops, keys, sat navs, purses and suitcases.

The areas patrolled were Windsor Drive, Windsor Park, Windsor Gardens, Windsor Close, Blenheim Drive, Blenheim Gardens, Blenheim Court, Blenheim Avenue, Blenheim Close and Kensington Park, Tredegar Drive, Barons Court, Old Barn Court, The Paddocks, Park Court, St Mellons Close, Hunters Ridge and Badgers Walk.

CSOs spoke to 46 residents in person to give crime prevention advice.

The four residents who were not at home received letters explaining the risk of leaving their vehicles unlocked or valuables on display.

Residents were also signed up to OWL, the Online Watch Link, which aims to improve communication about crime trends and crime prevention advice between local residents and the police.

CSO Hayley Brown said: “We wanted to run this initiative following a number of thefts from vehicles in the area in recent months.

“We were disappointed to see so many vehicles left unlocked or with valuables clearly on display, that’s like an open invitation for an opportunist thief.

“We were glad to offer advice to residents and everyone we spoke to was very grateful for our feedback and crime prevention advice.

“Operation Handle will continue over the next few months but please could we remind all residents to play their part in stopping these thefts.”

For crime prevention advice or to sign up to OWL, contact Magor Police Station on 01633 882577.