POLICE have issued a warning to the public and is urging people to be vigilant when visiting beauty spots after three backpacks were stolen from a car near Silbury Hill.

Between 6.30pm and 7.45pm yesterday (August 23), a window of a Skoda Octavia was smashed and he three bags containing cash, credit cards, passport, journals, clothes, jewellery and other personal belongings were stolen.

The vehicle was parked on the layby next to the footpath leading to the Longbarrow historic site. The layby is located between Silbury Hill and West Kennet on the A4.

PC Tom Crabtree said: “I would like to speak to anyone who witnessed anybody loitering around the vehicle or in the area at this time, or anyone who saw the window being smashed.

“It would also be useful to hear from anyone who was driving this stretch of road with dash cam footage.

“Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to remind people to be vigilant when visiting rural beauty spots. Do not leave valuable items in your car, especially in view of passers by. If you have no other option but to leave items in your vehicle, please lock them out of sight. People who commit this type of crime are often opportunists, leaving valuables in your car means it is much more likely to be targeted by thieves.”

Anyone with information on this incident should call 101 and quote crime reference number 54180079890