KEMPSEY people have been warned to guard against thieves looking for stocking fillers after a number of thefts from cars and houses in the parish.

Two houses were burgled while their owners were away and two empty houses were also targeted during October and November, said PC Sarah Nicholls.

Items were stolen from an industrial unit and from two vehicles, while petrol had been siphoned from a third.

One man had been attacked from behind while walking in Post Office Lane at 7pm on Thursday, December 6, when he was robbed of his mobile phone and an inhaler.

In a separate incident, someone collecting for Cancer Research found that money had already been collected from five houses by an impostor.

PC Nicholls, based in Malvern, was reporting to Kempsey Parish Council on the period since former Kempsey beat manager PC Nick Revell attended a meeting.

PC Revell has now been transferred to Droitwich and Kempsey is being covered by officers from Malvern.

"In the run-up to Christmas people need to be very vigilant for their own safety and it is worth mentioning that they should keep a check on empty homes," said PC Nicholls.

"It's the time of year when people are trying to fill their Christmas stockings."