Sticks are used to steal car keys

Audacious car thieves have been using long sticks to reach through letter boxes and steal vehicle keys.

The thieves, who have been operating in the St George and Fishponds areas of Bristol, then steal cars which are usually parked nearby.

Sgt Tim Hill said: "We find that residents often hang up their car keys in their hall or leave them near the front door.

"This makes it easy for them to be hooked out of the house."

He added: "It's not hard for the thief to find out which car the keys belong to in your street.

"We would advise residents to store their car keys out of sight and especially nowhere near the front door."