A WOMAN is urging residents to stay vigilant after money and a bank card were stolen from her car.

Gail Eborall, from Holst Avenue in Witham, had come home from a busy day in Loughton and had not noticed her car had been broken into until the following morning.

Once in her car she realised a bank card and cash had been taken.

She said: "I had given my car to my son for a couple of months so I'm using an old car at the moment. I'm sure I locked it but in the morning noticed all my stuff was over the the floor.

"I had left money in the compartment by the handbrake and I had wage slips and work papers, and panicked because I have my mums paperwork in there as I'm her carer.

"Plus, after hearing about all the burglaries I'm now keeping my house windows shut. I used to leave them open."

She is eager to know what more can be done to keep property safe and wants to make her neighbours aware of what happened to her.

She said: "I tried calling the police but couldn't get through, I didn't think there was much they could do anyway.

"I just wanted to make people aware that things are happening, it's in a cul-de-sac and it's generally pretty safe but it's quite dark at night.

"I don't know how someone got in, but I've only had this car a couple of weeks. I shouldn't have left the money in there."

The money was taken from the silver Vauxhall Corsa on Tuesday, June 14.