THIEVES targeted a quiet residential part of Poole to steal a pair of car headlights.

Broadstone man Trevor Morton was left in the dark when vandals stole the headlights from his Land Rover Discovery while it was sitting on the drive of his house.

The family was asleep in bed at the time of the incident on the night of Sunday November 1.

Mr Morton noticed the missing lights after waving his children off to school the following morning.

He had filled the car full of items for the tip - a trip that will now have to wait until the lights are replaced.

But at more than £300 each Mr Morton is furious at the thieves whom he believes were just taking advantage of an opportunity in a quiet and low-crime area.

"We live in this comfy little place that's as safe as houses," he said. "I was just gobsmacked. My wife couldn't believe it.

"I thought it was a prank at first as the light units are child's play to take out. But the joke was on me. Dorset Police too were baffled given the very low crime rate in the area. Whilst I support the idea of street lights being switched off late at night, it has created a massive window of opportunity for thieves.

"When the police came along they were really surprised because they never get calls down here but someone obviously saw the opportunity.

"I don't know if this is a general trend to half-inch them for spares.

"The police have advised me to install CCTV cameras. I'm reticent to do it but I have to consider it. I think they're invasive but it's a sign of the times I guess."