A car thief stole an expensive BMW from a housing estate in Wiltshire.

Witnesses reported seeing three people wearing balaclavas walking around the Birds Marsh View Estate in Chippenham shortly before a car worth around £50,000 was stolen from a property in the neighbourhood. 

The theft happened between 10.30pm on Sunday, April 23, and 4am on Monday, April 24. 

Police are appealing for witnesses.

DC Jo Chesshire said: “We'd like to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area, particularly if anyone has doorbell or CCTV footage between 2.30am and 4am.

“We're also investigating reports that three people were seen walking around the estate wearing balaclavas.

“We believe this was a keyless car theft, as the victim’s property did not appear to have been entered and their keys weren't taken.

"We would encourage keyless car owners to put the key card or fob in a Faraday case/pouch – a special bag with a metal lining – to block any transmissions, and to use a steering lock where possible – an ‘old school’ security measure that is also a visual deterrent to would-be thieves."

Anyone who can help the police with their enquiries should call 101 quoting reference number 54230042692.

As part of this appeal, police issued advice to help other motorists keep their cars safe from thieves.

• Keep your vehicle locked, windows shut and your keys secure.

• Park the vehicle in a locked garage where possible.

• Where possible, park in a well-lit area and in clear view of your property and any CCTV cameras.

• Do not leave any valuables such as wallets, phones, Sat Navs etc on display.

• Mark the items of property/tools that are stored in the vehicle using an artificial DNA property marker such as Smartwater or SelectaDNA.

• If you have a second, non-keyless vehicle, park it behind the high-value one.

• Check with your car dealership as they can offer advice and the manufacturer/dealer can often track the vehicle if it is stolen.

• If the vehicle is a company car, check with your fleet managers who can offer crime prevention and tracking advice.

•Call 999 immediately if you see a crime in progress or any suspicious activity around vehicles in your area. Note the registration numbers of vehicles and descriptions of those involved.