Motorists could lose thousands of pounds by forgetting to carry out a simple check before walking away from their vehicles. 

Over the weekend, Uxbridge Police revealed there had been a “number of thefts” from vehicles which had an “unlocked car door”. 

Experts have warned checking a locked door should become a “habitual behaviour” with motorists at risk of crime. 

Uxbridge Police posted on X: “There have been a number of thefts from vehicles in #Uxbridge where the perpetrator has gained entry through an unlocked car door. 

“An ITV study shows this is responsible for as many as 44 percent of car thefts. Please always make sure to double-check check you have locked your car overnight!”

If a car is left unlocked motorists risk losing thousands if criminals decide to drive away with the model altogether. 

This is likely to dramatically backfire with car insurance providers unlikely to offer payouts if a car was stolen through negligence. 

Previous analysis from car insurance provider Aviva also shows that more than one in five drivers (23 percent) don’t always lock their vehicles. 

The data shows that where a vehicle is stolen, a staggering 14 percent of these were found to have been left unlocked.

West Midlands Police warned that most cases of vehicle crime have been “committed by opportunist thieves and can be easily prevented”.

They stressed motorists should ensure their vehicle is always kept secure even if left unattended for a few minutes. 

All valuables should also be removed with nothing ever left on display for fear of catching the eye of thieves.

New data from RegTransfers has found almost half (46 percent) of all thefts were a result of vehicles being left with the doors unlocked. 

The latest research found that criminals were moving away from brute force methods like breaking windows which made up just 16 percent of crimes last year compared to 27 percent ten years ago.

Mark Trimbee, CEO of RegTransfers stressed “It should become a habitual behaviour to lock up your car, even if you’re just refuelling or parking briefly in your driveway.

“You should never leave your vehicle running if you’re leaving the driver’s seat, and keep an eye out to make sure all windows and sunroofs are fully closed.

“When it comes to your keys, keep them out of sight and away from entry points to prevent theft through methods like key fishing.”