POLICE are warning Winchester residents to stay vigilant against crime this summer.

Officers last week told residents of Weeke, Harestock, Littleton and Fulflood to be mindful of leaving windows open at home or in cars during hot weather to avoid thefts.

PC Robin Tebb said: “Please remember any open window or door is an opportunity. People go out and forget they are open and come back to find someone has taken advantage.

“It only needs to be a small window for someone to get in. We must make sure we are all protected.”

They were speaking at a Police and Community Together (PACT) meeting at Littleton Millennium Memorial Hall to update residents on police activity.

PC Tebb added: “We rely on people phoning up to say they have seen a suspicious car or person and we can do something about it. But without this information we cannot react to things.

“We cannot patrol all the time. We are a thin blue line.”