Thieves went on a stealing spree, breaking into 17 cars in just one night.

They caused about £2,000 damage after smashing car windows and stealing stereos, sat navs, CD players and CDs.

Most of the cars targeted were Ford Kas, Focuses and Fiestas parked in Great Berry, Coburg Lane, Northampton Grove, Glenwood Gardens and Gilbert Drive in Langdon Hills.

One woman, who lives in Coburg Lane, described how she woke up yesterday to find the window of her silver Ford Focus smashed and her car stereo gone.

She said: "My neighbour had her Focus broken into as well.

"When I reported my car stereo stolen to the police they said they had been inundated with calls and warned there had been a spate of car stereo thefts in the area."

Simon Dobinson, inspector for Laindon and Basildon Town, said police had already carried out house to house inquiries and urged witnesses with information about the break-ins to come forward.

He added: "It is very uncommon to get so many crimes in one locality and it may be that this is just a one off. Although motor-ists can't always take their car stereos out of their cars and into their homes, we would urge them not to leave sat navs and other valuables in their vehicles."

Anyone with information about the car break-ins, on Wednesday evening, should call police at Basildon on 01268 532212.