Lancashire Police are warning motorists that it only takes seconds for an opportunist thief to steal from your vehicle - as new CCTV footage has proved.

Police have taken the unusual step of issuing this footage in the hope that it will educate vehicle owners and that it will help them gain their support, whilst visiting town centres in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Det Insp Ian Dawson said: “We want to discourage shoppers from leaving unattended gifts visible in cars wherever you park. As you can see from the CCTV footage of the theft from this delivery vehicle – it takes a car criminal just seconds to enter and steal from a vehicle. They are brazen individuals – this thief operating during broad daylight on the busiest street in the city.

“I want people to consider the chance that they may become a victim and, by becoming a victim of car crime, the time and expense of having car windows or damaged door locks repaired.

The images captured on the CCTV footage shows the typical behaviour of a car criminal in action, on this occasion on a busy shopping street in Preston earlier this year.

Police are working in partnership with business, car parks security, parking wardens and shopping centres to spot vulnerable vehicles.

Det Insp Dawson added: “It takes 30 seconds to put personal belongings into a secure boot of the vehicle. In taking those extra 30 seconds you are reducing your changes of becoming a victim of car crime this Christmas.

“Car thieves will steal any valuables particularly, sat navs, mobile phones, iPods, handbags, bags of shopping, briefcases, left inside your unattended car.”