AM's sister-title Fleet News runs a regular diary column by Martin Ward (pictured), CAP manufacturer relationship manager.

Here is a recent entry highlighting the ingenuity of thieves and a warning to dealers:

"Monday – Talking to some dealers and they told me about the problems of parts being stolen of cars on their forecourts overnight.

"The sort of items being taken are headlights that apparently are the right brightness and the right heat to shine onto illegal plants to help them grow.

"The other strange one is a specific type of sat-nav system (I’m not saying which one) that a certain part can be removed from, can operate a well-known TV broadcaster's pay to view (not saying which one it is either) for free, forever.

"How does anyone find out that a small component can do this? Very expensive and frustrating for the dealer, or a private owner or fleet user who has their sat-nav removed.

"This new phenomena of things being taken from vehicles is certainly growing, and taking the whole car seems to be being replaced by this new wave of crime. It is probably more lucrative and safer just taking parts and components, and the thieves are less likely to get caught."