CRIMINALS are able to target company cars in the hope of valuable portable satellite navigation systems being left inside because of marks on the windscreen, fleet managers have been warned.

Suckers used to attach the systems to the vehicle windscreen often leave marks when drivers remove them after parking the vehicle, members of the London East region of ACFO, the fleet managers’ association heard.

The tell-tale marks allow thieves to break into vehicles, knowing the system might be in the glovebox or boot.

One fleet manager said: ‘A simple tip is to tell drivers to wipe the windscreen before they leave the car.’

Members were also reminded that a system provided by an employer but with some private use incurs benefit-in-kind tax.