People enjoying Medway’s rural areas and beauty spots are warned to be security conscious when leaving their vehicles in isolated areas.

The reminder comes after police saw a rise in the number of thefts from rural locations across the county, including Capstone Farm Country Park, Chatham.

As an extension of the Safer Spring initiative, neighbourhood officers are now patrolling rural areas more often and are offering families crime prevention advice, so they can make the most of the warmer spring weather.

Supt Peter Wedlake, from Kent Police, said: “Unfortunately while the isolation of these areas make them attractive to walkers, it also makes them attractive to opportunist thieves.

"Thieves are looking for items with high market value, such as satellite navigation systems, laptops and expensive tools.

“We want to remind people to be security conscious, however unlikely they think it is their vehicle will be broken into.”

Similar thefts have also been reported in the Canterbury, Faversham and Dover areas.