THIEVES have broken into 40 cars across south Wiltshire since November, according to police.

Twenty-eight cars have been targeted in Amesbury, Shrewton, Bulford and Winterbourne Gunner, and a further ten in Tidworth, Ludgershall and Netheravon.

Most happened during the night, but some cars were targeted at "beauty spots" popular with walkers during the day.

In most cases valuables or clothes had been left on view.

A would-be thief smashed the front passenger window of a blue Citroen parked at Woodhenge while the owner went for a jog on Monday, between 9am and 9.40am.

A white van was seen parked in the area at around 9.20am, but had left when the victim returned.

Nothing was stolen and police believe the car's alarm sounding and the presence of other people nearby scared the suspect away.

Police are keen to speak to any witnesses, especially an elderly man who spoke to the victim.

A window of a blue Honda parked in Newton Tony was smashed and the victim's handbag stolen on Friday, January 13, at 9.30am.

The suspects are described as two white men in their twenties. One was wearing a black woollen hat and a dark-coloured jacket. They were seen driving a green Ford Focus in the area at the time of the incident.

Just after noon the same day, thieves smashed a window of a Renault Clio and took a wallet and a white/gold iPhone 6, at the polo fields in Perham Down.

In Wylye, at around 6.30 pm on December 21, two people tried to break into a Honda Accord parked off Dinton Road, but were disturbed and ran towards the village.  The suspects are described as wearing dark-coloured clothing and carrying a cutting tool.  The police will be posting information through the week on the Amesbury and Tidworth Police Facebook pages.   Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and speak to officers at Amesbury Police Station.