Police have warned drivers not to leave their journey home programmed into their sat nav systems.

Thieves stole a device from a car at Alton Towers theme park which directed them to the owner's Shropshire home where they made off with a £20,000 Saab convertible.

West Mercia Constabulary's Det Sgt Chris Walsh, said: ‘If your car is broken into, particularly if you have an in-built satnav as part of the dashboard, all the offenders have to do is search for 'home' or similar and it will take them right to the door of your empty residence.

‘In this case, the satnav took them straight to the door of the victim's house and they then stole a £20,000 convertible from the driveway. The vehicle was later recovered.’

Walsh cautioned: "If you must have a setting saved to get you home, only ever put your town in to get you back to familiar territory. Don't use the postcode.’