Would you leave £200 cash on your car dashboard when you leave it to go shopping?

That is the question being posed by Det Insp Kenny Ingram of South Kent Police’s Tactical CID unit and comes after a number of Sat Nav systems have been stolen from cars in the South Kent area.

Det Insp Ingram said “No one would dream of leaving cash on their dashboard, so why do people leave expensive Sat Navs in unattended cars?”

Kent Police is warning motorists to be wary of people who offer Sat Navs for sale in pubs and other public places, as they could be helping to fuel the criminal market in these gadgets.

Officers are targeting known car criminals and carrying out extra police patrols in car crime hot spots and car parks.

Det Insp Kenny Ingram said: “Like most opportunist crimes, the theft of Sat Navs can be avoided:

“Where it’s portable keep it safe by taking it, together with the support cradle and suction pads, with you when you leave the car. And remember to wipe away any suction pad marks left on the windscreen or dashboard as thieves will look out for these.

“Don’t leave the equipment in the glove compartment - thieves will usually check there first.” He added.