POLICE have warned motorists to be on their guard after thieves targeted villages and beauty spots across Ryedale.

Wheels were stolen from vehicles in and around Helmsley, and a series of cars were entered as thieves stole handbags and coats from the boot.

PC Ian Fraser, of Malton Police, said they believed some of the thefts had to be connected.

A Renault Megane and Renault Clio parked in High Street, Nawton, had all their wheels stolen overnight on Friday.

The same night, four wheels and a radio were taken from a Ford Fiesta in Howl Dale Lane, and the following night, four wheels went missing in Helmsley.

Over the weekend, several cars parked in isolated areas were broken into. A VW Golf parked on the Hawnby to Osmotherly road had the driver's door lock forced and a window smashed, although nothing was taken.

A silver Ford Mondeo was broken into outside Rievaulx and a navy shoulder bag containing £35 cash, a wallet and credit cards was taken. Another Ford Mondeo in Helmsley had a window smashed overnight, but nothing was thought to have been taken.

Thieves made off with a laptop computer worth £1,600 from a car in Norton, and a Subaru Impreza, registration M397 RSA, was stolen overnight on Saturday night in Helmsley.

PC Fraser said it was important motorists tried to avoid isolated spots where thieves could rely on operating undisturbed.

And garages offered locking wheel nuts, he said, which helped deter thieves from steeling wheels from parked cars.

Updated: 10:29 Tuesday, April 15, 2003