A summer rise in crime has seen burglars and thieves targeting cars and other vehicles around Ilkley.

Burglars have stolen cars after breaking into homes in Ilkley and Burley-in-Wharfedale to get the keys, and thieves have also stolen or broken into vehicles parked in the street.

There have been six house burglaries or attempted burglaries in Ilkley so far this month, after just two in the whole of June. Two executive cars have been stolen in recent weeks, as well as a motorbike and a motor scooter.

Two cars are thought to have been the target of would-be burglars at one home, while property including golf clubs, figurines, and bank cards have been stolen from homes in the Ilkley area.

Inspector Sue Sanderson, of Wharfedale and Craven Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) is urging residents to report any suspicious activity to police, and offering crime prevention help.

“We’ve had a slight increase in burglaries in Ilkley,” she said. “If anybody sees anyone acting suspiciously, we ask them to report it to ourselves.”

Insp Sanderson said the division’s burglary department was investigating these. While some of the burglars appear to have been looking for valuable property and bank cards, others may have been targeting cars parked outside the house.

Several of the break-ins and attempted break-ins happened between Sunday and Thursday, July 5 and 9.

Three incidents happened in Ilkley late on Sunday July 5 or in the early hours of Monday, July 6.

Burglars pulled open a UPVC window to get into a house on Dean Street, removing bank cards from handbags, which were then dumped. Intruders broke a Europrofile lock to get into a house on Hebers Grove, stealing a silver BMW 335I, and golf clubs.

On the same night, someone tried to snap off a protection panel over the door lock of a house on Victoria Avenue. Police believe the culprits had been trying to steal two cars, one of the them an executive model.

A black Audi A4 was stolen from Ilkley Road, Manor Park, Burley, between 10.30pm on Monday, July 6, and 7.30am the following day, after burglars broke into a house for the keys.

An attempt was made to break into a house on Clifford Road, Middleton, late on Tuesday, July 7, or early on Wednesday, July 8.

Eight Lladro figurines, along with cash, a mobile phone and a bank card, were stolen from a home in Ferndale Court, Ilkley, in then early hours of Thursday, July 9. Over the same night, suspects trying to get into a retirement flat on Yewbank Close were disturbed.

Insp Sanderson said one person had been arrested in connection with burglaries in the area, but enquiries are ongoing.

A motorbike and a scooter were also stolen in recent weeks. A red and black Yamaha motorcycle was stolen in Burley-in-Wharfedale between Monday, June 29, and Thursday, July 2.

A Yamaha scooter parked and left securely locked in Ilkley was stolen between 3pm and 4pm. A petrol cap was stolen from a Suzuki van on Norwood Terrace, Burley, between 11pm on July 2 and 9am on Saturday, July 4.

The spare wheel was stolen from a Land Rover parked on Kings Road, Ilkley, between Monday, June 22, and Friday, July 3.

Anyone with information on any of these crimes is asked to contact police on (0845) 6060606 or call the Crimestoppers line on (0800) 555111. Residents can discuss crime prevention advice by calling Ilkley NPT on (01274) 475301.