A POLICE chief believes a car crime spree in Caldicot and Rogiet may have been the work of a gang of drug users.

Inspector Dave Moses, from Caldicot police, also warned car owners in the area to be vigilant after thieves stole items and caused damage worth thousands of pounds last week.

They first targeted Rogiet when a blue Vauxhall Cavalier GL was stolen sometime between Friday, October 18 and Monday, October 21, from Meadway.

Then during the night of Sunday, October 20 and the morning of Monday, October 21, the area experienced a spate of thefts from vehicles.

Again in Meadway, a car was broken into and a CD player was stolen.

Cars were also entered in Martin's Close when a pocket computer worth £200, CDs valued at £150 and a jacket were stolen and then in Woodpecker Close where a Kenwood stereo worth £250 was taken.

The thieves then moved onto Caldicot where they were disturbed by a witness after they had broken into cars in Birbeck Road and Beech Road at around 5.15am on that Monday.

They managed to get away with a CD player from a BMW and fishing equipment and electrical tools from a blue Ford Transit van.

The witness was unable to give police descriptions of the thieves and it is believed they made their getaway in a car.

Inspector Moses said: "We believe that it is likely to be the work of drug users as we have experienced similar problems in the past.

"We also believe this latest spate of crime is likely to have be carried out by a group of people.

"I would urge people to make sure that their vehicles are secure because some of the cars broken into had not been locked.

"We would also ask car owners not to leave valuable property such as CDs, mobile phones and electrical equipment in their vehicles or at least to put them out of sight."

The inspector thinks it is possible that the thieves may have travelled to the area from somewhere like Newport or Cardiff.

He said: "It is more likely that local thieves would travel around on foot and not by car as these criminals have done."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Caldicot police on 01291 430999.