Police are investigating after fuel thieves targeted a number of parked cars in Herne Bay.

Officers received reports of fuel pipes being cut and petrol reportedly stolen from cars across the town, stretching from Beltinge to Greenhill.

PC Brett Wright said police were linking the thefts and were keen to identify the offenders.

He said: "We are not talking about large amounts of fuel being stolen, but every time a fuel pipe is cut or a fuel tank is damaged it means both costly repairs and inconvenience for the owners.

"Whoever is carrying out these offences would need some kind of petrol can or container to transport the fuel and would probably have splashes of petrol on their clothing."

The thefts included an estimated £20 of petrol from a black Vauxhall Corsa, parked in Kingfisher Court between 5.30am and 6am on Friday, May 27.

It was followed by an incident in The Meadows between 1pm on Friday, May 27 and 3pm on Saturday, May 28, when an estimated £50 worth of petrol was stolen from the fuel tank of a blue Peugeot 106.

On the following Monday (May 30), a silver Vauxhall Corsa parked in Wrentham Avenue was targeted between midnight and 10am.

"Whoever is carrying out these offences would need some kind of petrol can or container to transport the fuel and would probably have splashes of petrol on their clothing..." - PC Wright

Paintwork was damaged, the fuel line was cut and £35 worth of petrol was stolen. An attempt to cut the fuel line on a second car parked nearby was also made.

Between noon on Saturday, June 4 and 2pm on Sunday, June 5, the fuel pipe of a white Nissan Juke parked in Peartree Road was also cut and petrol worth £10 was stolen.

Over the same weekend, the owner of a red Fiat 500 reported a cut fuel line while her car was parked in Peartree Road between 4pm on Saturday, June 4 and 7am on Monday, June 6.

In a separate incident between 8pm and 11.30pm on Monday, June 6, petrol worth £15 was stolen from a blue Ford Galaxy parked in Blackburn Road. The thieves made a hole in the petrol tank.

On the following day, an estimated £9 worth of petrol was stolen from a silver Hyundai parked in Reculver Drive between 10.30pm on Tuesday, June 7 and 5pm on Thursday, June 9.

PC Wright added: "We ask anyone who has seen anyone acting suspiciously around parked cars both on the street and in residential car parks in the Herne Bay area, or has information about the thefts, to contact police on 01843 222289 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting crime number ZY/19056/16."