POLICE in Darlington have again warned that opportunist thieves will prey on absent-minded motorists.

A bag was stolen from a car parked in the Oxford Street Mews area of Springfield on Tuesday night. A window was smashed and the thief took the bag from the back seat.

It was the latest in a spate of incidents which have seen vehicles in the town raided.

Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator Jacqui Snowball said: "Any items left on view in a parked car are at risk of encouraging this kind of crime. Even a jacket left on a seat provides temptation."