THIEVES stole cash and car keys from a fire station while the crew was out of the building.

Fire crews from Orpington station in north Kent were attending a home fire safety risk assesment at 7am on Saturday when thieves targeted the empty building.

Sets of car keys and around £500 cash was stolen after the crooks smashed open six lockers.

Watch Manager John Howick thinks his crew's return at 7.45am disturbed the thieves.

He added: "We do our bit for the community and this is how the community treats us. There's a lot of financial implications with this type of crime."

No cars were stolen from the site. Police are investigating the incident.