Two thieves have pleaded guilty to a number of vehicle thefts in the area.

On Saturday, people were spotted acting suspiciously and trying door handles of vehicles in The Avenue, Bushey.

Officers immediately attended the scene and detained both Louis Croucher, 24, and Louis Andrada, 39, both of no fixed address.

They were carrying bags containing a number of stolen items including mobile phones, laptops and sunglasses from at least four different vehicles.

Croucher and Andrada were taken to custody and charged with handling stolen goods before appearing at Hatfield Remand Court yesterday.

Andrada pleaded guilty to one count of handling stolen goods and was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months.

Croucher pleaded guilty to four offences of handling stolen goods and one of theft (shoplifting) and has been remanded ahead of sentencing on Thursday.

Detective Constable Andy Paveley, from the Hertsmere Local Crime Unit, said: “A number of the recovered items have been returned to their rightful owners however we still have some unidentified property that is still unclaimed.

“Therefore I would like to encourage people in Bushey – in particular, those living in The Avenue, Merry Hill Road and School Lane – to check their cars and see if any items are missing. If so, please call us on 101 and ask to speak to a member of Hertsmere Local Crime Unit.

“I would also like to remind motorists to check that their vehicles are locked before leaving them and that they have not left anything of value in them.”