Luxury cars are being stolen to order by criminal gangs, according to police.

Seventeen cars were snatched from outside homes in Banstead, Epsom, Sutton, Wallington, Ashtead, Kingston, Merton and Croydon between October 13 and October 23 after thieves burgled homes.

Five exclusive cars were stolen from driveways in Sutton following three burglaries in the early hours of the morning between OCtober 14 - 21.

At Birchwood Avenue, Wallington, a BMW X5 and BMW 320 were taken on Monday, 14 October, at Northway, Wallington, a BMW X5 was taken on Wednesday, October 16.

Police are urging drivers to park their vehicles in garages if at all possible and to take extra steps to secure their homes, such as installing security lighting and alarms.

Detective Inspector Clive Vale who is running Operation Candlelight, Surrey Police's campaign to crack down on burglary, said: "It’s probably a number of different groups. It’s not just one group.

DI Vale said burglars techniques vary, from putting a pole through a letter box to swipe keys off a side table, to breaking into a home to take the keys.

He said: "There are probably some taken down to the coast, put in containers and taken abroad.

Some may also be used to carry out other burglaries or commit other crimes. There’s a real cross-section."

If you have any information that could help police with their enquiries into these crimes, contact Sutton Police station on 101. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.