Car owners who leave their vehicles vulnerable to crime will be getting a different sort of Valentine's Day card this month.

While on their regular patrols, police in Somerset will be sending out Valentine's crime prevention cards to the owners of any cars that are potential targets for thieves.

Officers from areas such as Chard, Somerton, Wincanton, Yeovil, Frome, Shepton Mallet and Street will be on the look out for vulnerable vehicles during their usual patrols.

The registered keeper of these vehicles will be sent a Valentine's card with a crime reduction message, 'Roses are red, violets are blue, love your gadgets? A thief does too!', and crime prevention advice.

Crime reduction officer Beth Poole said: "We are increasingly seeing gadgets such as e-readers, laptops, mobile phones and sat navs left in unattended parked cars, which can be irresistible to the opportunist thief.

"We have also taken reports of vehicles broken into for a few CDs or even loose change.

"The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the importance of ensuring your vehicle is secure and items are not left on show.

"By adopting a slightly different approach and tying it in with Valentine's Day, we hope it will be more memorable to people and help build on our existing crime prevention activity."

Beth added: "I am sure most of us would be pleased to receive a Valentine's Day card but we hope this is one Valentine people will try to avoid!"

Avon and Somerset Police are offering the following car crime prevention advice...

1) Lock the doors, windows, boot and sunroof every time you leave your car - however briefly.

2) Don't leave anything on display, valuable or not. The cost of replacing a broken window is often far more than the value of goods stolen.

3) Try and park in designated, busy and well-lit places. Avoid leaving your car in isolated dark spots, particularly overnight.

4) If you can, take your belongings with you. If you can't, lock everything out of sight in the boot.

5) Never leave the following anywhere in your car: Cheque, credit and debit cards, cash, wallets or handbags. Driving documents and personal correspondence (they could help a thief to sell your car). Mobile phones (40% of car break-ins involve the theft of a mobile phone... mark your phone and battery with your postcode).

6) Satellite navigation systems and radio/CD players should always be removed where possible.

7) Register your car and its contents with www.immobilise.com