A smart phone was stolen from a car parked outside a Witham supermarket.

The £300 Samsung Galaxy S3 mini was taken from an insecure car in the Asda car park, in Highfields Road, overnight between February 23 and 24.

Sgt Martin Richards, of Witham police, said: “I’m not really seeing with any theft from motor vehicles, cars which are secure.

“We need to push that message out, that people need to make sure their vehicles are locked.

“We have those who are willing to check door handles and if your car’s open it’s going to be rifled.”