Residents of Wilsden have been “issuing invitations” for criminals to steal from garages and cars, police say.

Officers have urged villagers to keep garage doors closed and objects in vehicles out of sight.

The ‘open house’ problem came to light as Neighbourhood Policing Team officers carried out a crime prevention blitz.

They visited addresses in Wilsden to provide crime safety advice.

A police spokesman said: “The advice was well received and more operations of this type are planned.”