CAR owners into the latest gadgets are being warned satellite navigation equipment has become a must-have for car thieves.

Between December 22 last year and March 16, Bexley police dealt with 57 cases where sat-nav systems had either been taken from cars or been targeted by thieves.

And in the past six weeks there have been 47 more.

Now police are urging anyone with a sat-nav system to take it with them when they park their cars.

They say hiding it in the glove compartment is not good enough.

Owners should also take off any mounting brackets and rub off sucker marks left by the equipment.

Detective Superintendent Darrell Shephard urged anyone with information about sat-nav thefts or any other crimes to call 0800 555111 or email Bexley@met.police.uk