CARELESS residents are ending up car-less on Teesside - triggering a rebuke from a senior police officer.

Acting Inspector Glynn Bass, Cleveland Police crime prevention officer in Middlesbrough, says eight burglaries could have been avoided over the weekend if people had only heeded repeated police advice to keep their doors locked.

Three victims suffered the double blow of having their homes burgled and cars stolen, after leaving car keys in plain view.

Acting Inspector Bass says residents are giving thieves an open invitation to steal.

"Despite repeated warnings, these kind of opportunist thefts continue to take place. They have happened in the early afternoon, evening and late at night.

"This shows thieves are constantly about, looking for easy pickings.

"All people have to do is think - lock doors and windows, don't leave keys and valuables on show where an intruder can easily pick them up.''

He said a burglar forcing his way into a house left forensic evidence, but a sneak-in thief left very little, however, he would walk on if he found his way barred. The easiest way to thwart an opportunist thief was to keep doors and windows locked, said Mr Bass.

The eight walk-in thefts accounted for half of the burglaries in Middlesbrough during the weekend.

One walk-in victim had they keys to his house, garage and car snatched, his new Vauxhall Astra stolen, as well as his satellite navigation system which he had placed in a shelf in his hallway.