Owners of high value cars are being warned to be careful after a Mercedes Benz was stolen from a driveway in Vinters Park, Maidstone.

The car was taken after burglars broke into a home in Snowdon Avenue and took the keys in the early hours of Wednesday.

It was later recovered in Lewisham after the tracker in the vehicle was activated.

Detective Sergeant Martin Foord of Tac CID at Maidstone who is investigating this series of crimes, said: "We believe these offences are being committed by criminal gangs coming in to Kent from outside of the county. Many of the homes being targeted are in Vinters Park, Grove Green, Pennenden Heath and Weavering, where offenders come in off the motorway to commit crimes.

"We have already made a number of arrests but I would issue a warning to homeowners to be particularly careful when locking their doors. In a number of cases, the targets for these burglars have been homes with UPVC doors where although the door appears locked on the outside, it may be accessible to persons carrying out this type of offence. To combat this, I recommend that homeowners with this type of door double lock it, which will make it a lot harder for burglars to gain access."

The increases seen in these types of burglary in Maidstone are being linked to the nationwide economic downturn and also because of improved car security, as many vehicles now cannot be stolen without the keys.