DRIVERS leaving their vehicles unlocked are aiding a rise in car crime.

A total of 143 cars were broken into between September 14 and October 13 this year, with 47 of them not being locked properly.

Police in Brighton and Hove are urging residents to check their vehicles after parking them.

Inspector Paul Ransome, of Sussex Police, said: “Insecure vehicles are at greater risk of being broken into.

“Thieves will walk along the streets trying door handles so always make sure you leave it locked.

“Anything from coins and sunglasses to sat navs will be stolen.

“Don’t leave items of any value on display, making it more tempting for them to try to get into your vehicle.

“Please be vigilant in your area and report any suspicious activity immediately.”

The car crime statistics is skewed to one side of the city.

In the east, there were 82 break-ins, with 26 of them unsecured.

Centrally, 26 cars were broken into, with six insecure, while in the west of the city there were 35 break-ins, 15 of which were because cars were not locked.

There were 112 break-ins across the city during the previous recorded period, from August 15 to September 13 this year, meaning the new figures show one more break-in every day.

However, the most recent figure is almost a mirror image of car break-ins during the same period in 2013, a slight increase in the proportion of unsecured vehicles.

Most break-ins are occurring overnight.

Gavin Hill-Smith, a spokesman for the AA, said: “It is like leaving your front door open – it’s an invitation.

“You wouldn’t do it with your house so why do it with your car? People are probably just being forgetful and complacent.

“If someone’s negligently not locking their car, that’s somewhat foolhardy. You’re probably asking for trouble.

“Brighton and Hove is a big urban area and has the crime that goes with that.”

Mr Hill-Smith added that drivers have a duty of care when it comes to locking their car because of insurance.

One reader, Josie Wilson, who lives in Brighton, had her car broken into in March.

It was the night before her hen weekend. Her car was locked but the thief smashed the driver’s window with a crowbar only to discover there was nothing of value to take.

She branded the break-in as mindless vandalism and said her car was “a state” because of living in Brighton.

Alex Williams, 31, from Longhill Road, Brighton, was a victim of car crime shortly after starting a new job at Gatwick. He came out of his former house in Southdown Avenue at about 4.15am to go to work. He got in his car and noticed the glovebox was open.

Mr Williams had a sat nav and stereo in the car but the thief only took his sunglasses.

He added: “It was all very strange. I am grateful they didn’t take more items and, indeed, the car.”

The passenger door locking mechanism was broken at the time.

Mr Williams said: “My car is always locked now. I end up checking the door even if someone says they pushed the lock down manually. I still check.”

Sussex Police said anyone with concerns or in need of crime prevention advice should contact their local PCSO or call 101, or 999 if there is a crime in progress.