THE number of number of thefts of satellite navigation systems and laptop computers from cars in south Worcestershire by opportunist thieves has dropped dramatically, according to the police.

The number of sat-nav thefts in Worcester, Wychavon and Malvern Hills fell from 93 in the six months from the beginning of June to the end of November 2006 to 55 in the corresponding period last year.

In the same two periods the number of lap-tops stolen across the West Mercia Constabulary south Worcestershire division - which also includes Droitwich, Evesham, Martley, Pershore, Tenbury Wells and Upton-upon-Severn - dropped from 30 to 26.

Police estimate that the value of sat-nav thefts during the periods under review fell from about £37,000 to about £24,000, and thefts of lap-tops fell from an estimated £30,000 to about £16,000.

A police spokesman said: "While one theft is too many, it is heartening to see dramatic falls in the theft of these high-value, highly-mobile and highly-desirable electronic items.

"We congratulate drivers who have helped by taking their laptops and sat-navs with them when leaving their vehicles un-attended.

"There are, unfortunately, still a substantial number who choose to believe that this type of crime will never happen to them."

The spokesman said the theft of an item often brings other headaches, including the loss of personal and professional information, item replacement, vehicle repair, alternative vehicle hire, time-consuming insurance claims, almost inevitable increased insurance premiums and/or higher initial waivers, and a feeling of invasion of privacy.