Car owners are still inviting thieves to steal their vehicles by leaving keys on view or in obvious places, according to the police.

People are again being urged to take their car keys to be with them, or hide them in less obvious places to avoid burglars targeting them.

The warning comes after a number of cars were stolen over the Christmas period because keys were on view or hidden in the most likely places.

Neighbourhood Watch Liaison Officer at Weetwood Police, Peter Krushniak said: "Most of the time, thieves are able to look into a house and see keys either on a shelf, on hooks or in the back of the door.

"If this is not the case then they are usually in a kitchen drawer or somewhere else that is quite obvious.

"People really must take their keys to bed with them or hide them in much better places.

"It is a shame that we should have to do this, but if people want to keep their cars safe, then they must protect them."

Two cars were stolen from Otley on Sunday, December 29.

The Mazda MX5 and Volkswagen Golf were taken from a house off Crow Lane.

Car keys had been kept in a drawer in the kitchen, but thieves managed to break in and find them, escaping in both cars.

A Range Rover was stolen from Yeadon when thieves removed a whole pane of glass from a window next to the front door.

They used a hooked instrument to grab the keys from a rack at Ackworth Crescent between 11pm and 6am between Sunday, December 29 and Monday, December 30.

Thieves tried to steal a car from a house in Balmoral Way, Yeadon, but found another car blocked their escape.

Two men threw a stone through the window next to the front door and took keys from the back of the door at 8.20pm on Sunday, December 29.

The first man was described as 20-years-old, 5ft 10ins to 6ft, slim, wearing dark clothing, possibly a track suit, and a dark woollen hat which covered his eyes and ears.

The other man was also wearing dark clothing.

Peter Krushniak said: "Stealing a car has never been easier really, because when people stole cars before, they had to work for it, now it is so simple.

"In the past, stealing older cars meant working under the bonnet with wires, or actually breaking in to the car, but now thieves can just get hold of the car keys and steal the whole lot without any damage to the car.

"Car thieves are able to take the car, undamaged, with the keys, and sell it without too much trouble, but if people hid their keys well away from where thieves are likely to look, their job will be much harder."

l Anyone with information can call Weetwood on (0113) 2413459.