Police have issued a warning after a surge in thefts of Fiat 500s - particular the Abarth model.

Alongside Fords, Volkswagens, Audis, Corsas, the Fiat is on the most stolen car lists in the region.

West Midlands Police issued a stark warning to drivers on Thursday to increase security in and around the car and remain vigilant.

Fiat Abarth 595 Pista

WMP Traffic tweeted: "We are currently seeing a surge of thefts targeting Fiat 500's & particularly Abarth's.

"If you have one please consider adding addition security such as steering locks, immobilisers, trackers, faraday bags for the keys if the vehicle is keyless entry & parking bollards etc."

Birmingham Live spoke to Tim Shallcross from road safety charity IAm RoadSmart about why this nifty number has become too hot to handle - and what you can do to keep hold on to yours.

Why the Fiat 500 Abarth ?

Mr Shallcross said: "The Fiat 500 Abarth – or Abarth 595 – is a pocket rocket and puts a smile on the face of everyone who drives it.

"It's amongst the top of the small, high performance cars. It's got great acceleration, handling and is great fun to drive.

"What can wipe the smile off the face however is discovering the car has been stolen, which seems to be happening increasingly often.

"If the car is recovered, it may simply be joyriders out to a night of fun at your expense.

"If it vanishes forever, it may have been illegally exported to Africa or the far east or anywhere with a demand for these fun cars.

"Alternatively, it might have been broken up for spares and the parts exported or sold in the UK by unscrupulous dodgy parts dealers.

"The engine alone can go for around £800 - £1,000, although they will have to disguise the engine number.

"Most other parts are completely untraceable."

The Fiat Abarth 595 esseesse

Is it easy to steal ?

He said: "The Abarth is no less secure than most other cars.

"It doesn't have keyless entry, so isn't prone to 'Relay' theft, but these days crooks can easily extract the immobiliser security codes from a car's standardised diagnostic socket – known as the OBD socket.

"The OBD socket is something fitted by law to make life easier for your garage but which presents a vulnerable back door into the car's security for those in the know.

"How they open the door varies. It might be through a device which eavesdrops on your remote keyfob when you try to unlock the car – a giveaway for this is that you press the unlock button and nothing happens but when you press it again, the car unlocks.

"Cars are protected by changing the code every time the unlock button is pressed, but the device records the first code and jams the radio signal. At your second press, it transmits the first signal and records the second."

Mr Shallcross added: "The car unlocks, but now the crook has captured an unused code and can return and open the car any time they like. "

So what can you do to protect your Fiat ?

Mr Shallcross said: "First make sure your car has the latest security upgrade – check with your dealer.

"However, perhaps the most effective deterrent is an old fashioned crook lock – the hardened steel lockable hook joining the steering wheel and a pedal.

"These were popular in the seventies and eighties, so you (or your dad) might still have one in the garage, but they're widely available and a very visible deterrent.

"They take a while to get off, so unless your car is being stolen to order, the crook will probably move on to something easier to pinch.

"They are a nuisance to have to put on and remove but it's a simple measure that does work, provided it's fitted.

"So, a bit of low tech security from the back of the shed can still defeat the highest of tech thieves."