Information appeal following thefts from cars parked in Winchester beauty spots

Officers are appealing for witnesses and motorists with dashcam footage to come forward following a number of thefts from vehicles in rural areas surrounding Winchester.

Police received 12 reports of thefts from vehicles on Friday 20 September and Saturday 21 September.

Five of these reports related to thefts from cars parked at the Old Winchester Hill nature reserve near West Meon.These took place between 2pm and 7pm on Saturday 21 September.

A number of cars were damaged, and some items were stolen, including a child’s buggy and gym clothes.On the same day, there was a theft from a vehicle parked in Beacon Hill Road, in nearby Exton.

A purse containing banks cards and money was stolen.Four other thefts took place in the Avington Park/Easton area on the same afternoon. In one case, a car window was smashed and a bag containing a passport, phone and bank cards was taken.

Other reports include the theft of number plates from a vehicle parked in Abbottstone Wood, near Alresford, between 2pm and 5pm on Friday 20 September, and number plates stolen from a van parked in Upper Church Road, Shedfield, sometime between Friday 20 September and 9.30am on Sunday 22 September.

Officers are conducting enquiries and are looking to see whether all the incidents above are linked. Police would like to hear from anyone with information on these incidents to contact them.

It may be that you were driving in one of these areas, or had parked there, at the relevant times and may have dashcam footage that may assist enquiries.If so, please contact police on 101.

Alternatively, information can be submitted via our website: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report