Expensive cars have been targeted by thieves in St Albans.

A Mercedes-Benz was stolen from the driveway of a house in Mount Drive overnight on November 27-28, after thieves had stolen the keys and cash from inside the home.

Thieves also attempted to burgle another house in the road which has a high-value car in the driveway in the same night.

In the small hours of November 28, at just after 3am, thieves were disturbed by occupants while trying to burgled a house in Avian Avenue, which had an expensive car in the driveway.

Oliver Darcy, 28, of Templeton Road in Tottenham, and Andrew Rawlings, 29, of Denton Close in Luton, were arrested after a burglary in Bricket Wood on November 27 and both been charged with conspiracy to steal between October 3 and November 28, 2017, after motor vehicles were stolen in St Albans, Hoddesdon, Stevenage and Bedfordshire.

Ian Dowse, Vehicle Crime Prevention Officer for Hertfordshire Constabulary, said: "New vehicles in the UK have some of the highest levels of security in the world, however, criminals are now using sophisticated electronic techniques to combat security systems and render the latest security devices ineffective, allowing the vehicle to be stolen.

"When using remote central locking, check it really is locked before leaving your vehicle."

St Albans Detective Inspector Alex Warwick also suggested for car-owners to purchase a steering lock and, if you have two cars and a garage, to park one in the garage and leave the other on the drive.

She said: "We have robust plans in place, which include extra high-visibility and covert police patrols and we made two arrests on Monday.

"However, we cannot be in every street, so the best thing is to help reduce your chance of being a victim of crime by keeping your car keys away from your letter box and front door."

More advice can be found on https://www.herts.police.uk/Information-and-services/Advice/Crime-prevention/Crime-prevention.aspx