The town of Ripon in the UK has been hit with a spate of car crime which

sees bonnet, bumpers, panels and lights stripped from parked vehicles while owners are asleep in their near-by houses.

Police are investigating several similar incidents and have urged residents to be vigilant. Meanwhile many of the residents have shared their experiences on social media.

22 year old Emma Pemberton woke up on a Sunday morning to find her Vauxhall Corsa wrecked. At first she thought it had been vandalised as the window was smashed, but a mechanic later confirmed this was only to release the bonnet which along with the bumper, grill and front headlights where all carefully removed.

Many other similar incidents have since been reported in the area, with bumpers bonnets and panels all targeted. A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said investigations were ongoing and urged people to park in secure or well-lit locations at night.