POLICE believe Citroen Saxo owners are the most likely to be the victims of car theft in York.

They are offering safety advice to people with Saxos on the west side of York after 32 were broken into since December 1.

Police have marked property inside 200 Saxos in Wigginton, South Bank and Acomb with Smartwater - an indelible marker, which is invisible to the naked eye but shows up under

ultraviolet light - for free, in order to help return stolen items to their rightful owners.

The Evening Press revealed last year how police had spent £27,000 on introducing the system, which uses batches of liquid with a distinctive chemical code, making it easier to track down criminals who have handled stolen goods marked with it, and to return stolen property.

A police spokesman said: "There is a major problem with thefts from vehicles, particularly Citroen Saxos. In the main, it's because people are leaving items in view in their cars.

"One of the biggest problems is satellite navigation systems. It is an ongoing problem, and it is increasing.

"We advise people to remove belongings from their cars. Never leave them on display.

"If you leave a laptop or a handbag on your car seat, it has a 'come and steal me' sign on it."

Thieves stole 29 satellite navigation systems from cars in York in the run up to Christmas.

Officers are warning owners of the increasingly popular systems to remove the fittings as well as the gadgets.

A number have been taken from glove boxes because thieves were alerted by the rubber sucker, which sticks the gadget to the car.

On Thursday, there were six reported thefts from cars in the city.

Thieves stole a satellite navigation system from a Vauxhall Astra at Monks Cross, a handbag from a white Ford Escort in Walworth Street, a Sony radio and CD player from a Peugeot 106 in Westmoor Lane, Heslington, and CD player from a Ford Escort in White Cross Road.

Thieves also got into a blue Citroen Saxo on Water Lane by drilling a hole in the passenger door lock of the car.

Sergeant Richard Crinnion said: "The most stolen items are still stereos and CD players, because that is where the biggest demand is from punters.

"The main targets for satellite navigation systems are delivery drivers, because they use them for work.

"It's not a huge problem in York at the moment, but we did see quite a few stolen in the run up to Christmas."

Updated: 10:34 Wednesday, January 18, 2006