Shoppers, dog walkers and school-run mums had their days ruined when they realised their bags were missing last week.

Five people across West Kent had possessions stolen from their cars while they were going about their daily routines.

On June 25 at 3pm a woman parked her Land Rover in Frittenden Road, Sissinghurst, to take her dogs for a walk.

She returned to find a window smashed and a leather bag containing items including her purse, £300 cash, an e-Reader and a car key gone.

On June 28 another woman parked her car off Ringden Avenue, Paddock Wood, at 4:40pm to visit a relative.

She hid her handbag under a jacket on a front seat but returned to her car to find the window smashed and the bag gone.

It contained her passport, bank cards and a digital camera.

At 7:30pm the next day a man was seen smashing a window of a car parked outside a house in Park Lane, Hawkhurst, and making off with a wallet.

Witnesses in the area identified the man as Michael Drinkwater and Kent Police officers subsequently arrested and charged Drinkwater with theft.

The wallet has been recovered and Drinkwater, 26, of Frythe Way in Cranbrook, will appear before magistrates on August 6

Earlier in the week a mother from St James Road, Sevenoaks, called police to report her son’s schoolbag had been taken from the footwell of her car when it was parked on her driveway on June 22.

The bag was found left in a neighbours’ garden with all its contents.

On June 23 a 27-year-old man attended a car boot sale at Pedham Golf Club in Swanley when he had his wallet and mobile phone stolen from his car.

Later that day a failed attempt was made to withdraw cash using a bank card left in the wallet and police are trying to trace who was using the stolen card.

DS Gary Scarfe, from the West Kent proactive crime team, said: “The public is urged to remove handbags, wallets and other valuable items from their vehicles when their vehicle is left unattended.

“Even a bag placed in a boot can be a target if thieves see you place it in there and walk away.

“Similarly, you may feel you have done enough by hiding your bag under a seat, but an opportunist thief will find it.

“Lock the doorsand close the windows and sunroof whenever you leave the car. Do not give thieves the opportunity to ruin your day.”

For more security information, visit www.kent.police.uk/vehicle