PEOPLE are being warned not to leave valuables in their cars at beauty spots on the moors after several incidents of handbag theft from unattended vehicles over the Easter weekend.

In the first, thieves smashed a window to break into a car parked at Grimspound near Postbridge on Friday, March 30 between 10am and 11am, stealing a handbag, CR/027095/18.

In the second, thieves stole a handbag from underneath the passenger seat of a car parked near Fernworthy Reservoir, Chagford between 11am and 12.30pm on Friday, March 30. CR027079/18. A handbag was also stolen from a car on Easter Sunday, April 1 from a car parked near Fernworthy reservoir, and another from a car parked near Sourton.

‘These incidents resulted in a considerable loss of cash to the victims and this is a stark reminder of the need to be vigilant when parking vehicles on the moors,’ said a police spokesman.

‘We have a regular Moorwatch campaign we run every summer season on the moors. We do our best to remind people not to leave valuables on view in your cars. Sat navs, handbags, wallets, phones and cash are all examples of things we see regularly left in cars whilst we patrol the car parks. If you do need to leave valuables in your car please hide these items BEFORE you get to the car park not when you get there.’

Police are hoping to trace the owner of an old ambulance with blacked out windows parked near Fernworthy reservoir on Easter Sunday, April 1 who may have witnessed something. Call the police on 101.

AN intruder broke into a car on a driveway in Courtlands Road, Tavistock overnight on Thursday to Friday, March 22 to 23. Nothing was taken, but police are advising people in the area to check their vehicles for any thefts. CR/024908/18.

A VEHICLE parked in Moyses Meadow, Okehampton was damaged sometime overnight on Thursday to Friday, March 15 to 16. An unknown offender removed the plastic trim off the bottom of the driver’s sliding door. CR/024913/18.

A ROAD sign telling motorists to slow down for animals on Dartmoor was stolen from Peak Hill on the B3212 Yelverton to Princetown road sometime on Friday, March 23 to Saturday, March 24. Anyone with information is urged to contact the police on 101, CR/026685/18.

POLICE officers have reported several incidents of young people being in possession of cannabis in Simmons Park, Okehampton during the week before the Easter weekend. Anyone with information is urged to contact the police on 101.