A petrol can was among the items swiped by thieves targeting vans and cars in public car parks.

Police have asked people to remain vigilant after four thefts in Elmbridge in one day.

The Premier Inn car park, off Portsmouth Road in Cobham, was hit three times between 6.30pm and 11.10pm on Friday, March 30.

The offenders smashed the windows of two white Iveco vans before stealing a generator from one of the vehicles and cash from the other.

The thieves also stole a petrol can from a trailer.

Another theft took place in Ambleside Avenue, Walton, between 11am and 11.25am the same day, when they stole two leaf blowers and a hedge trimmer from an LDV Convoy van.

Similar thefts also took place in New Haw and Shepperton.

Detective Inspector Stewart Leahy said: “Surrey Police is taking the recent spate of thefts from vehicles very seriously and we are doing everything possible to bring the offenders to justice.

“We are working closely with our neighbourhood teams to ensure that both during the day and in the evenings we are carrying out high visibility foot and vehicle patrols in the areas where the offences are taking place.

“However, we need the public to be our eyes and ears in the community and inform us of any suspicious activity so that we can take positive action swiftly.

“I would also urge motorists to take all possible precautions to keep their vehicles safe and help to discourage potential thieves.”