A WELLINGTON man has been charged after he was caught allegedly interfering with a vehicle.

Dylan Towers, 23, of Tonedale, was disturbed while rifling through a car in Lodge Close in the early hours of Thursday morning (June 14).

He also faces a charge of possession of cannabis. He was arrested on Friday, June 15, and is due before Taunton Magistrates on Tuesday 3 July.

He has been released on bail with an overnight curfew and officers will be checking to make sure he obeys it.

The charge follows an unusual increase in thefts of cash from homes and vehicles in the town in recent weeks. The majority of incidents have involved thefts of loose change from vehicles but there have also been seven burglaries reported.

The offences have taken place in the early hours, and the thief has always made off immediately when disturbed by a householder.

Officers are urging residents to ensure their vehicles are secured, as well as house windows and alarms.

Detective Sergeant Dave Wells said: “We’re continuing to investigate all the incidents which have been reported to us. I would stress that it’s really important for people to report any suspicious activity immediately. We’ve increased our patrols of the area so that we can respond quickly. Ring 999 if it’s obvious a crime’s being committed, otherwise call 101 straight away.

“We’d also ask people to make sure they secure doors and windows and set house alarms, as well as emptying vehicles of valuables and ensuring they’re locked. If you find your vehicle has been searched overnight, please do report it, even if nothing has been stolen as it will help us to target our patrols and bid for more resources.”

If you have any information which could help the police investigation, get in touch through the police website, or by calling 101, quoting reference 5218102712.