CROOKS who steal car number plates are the target of a new operation by police.

Plain clothed officers will patrol hotspots and the high-tech Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system will be deployed on roads throughout the town to track down cars with stolen plates.

Details of stolen registration plates will also be passed on to local petrol garages to deter and detect "drive-offs" - where motorists using fake plates fill up with fuel and drive off.

The campaign WAS launched in response to a rise in thefts, with 20 plates stolen from vehicles in Nelson since September 1, some of which have been used in drive-offs.

Inspector Jon Bullas said: "This type of offence is costly to innocent motorists who are having their plates stolen and to petrol stations who are suffering from drive offs.

"It is also adversely affecting our vehicle crime figures which have been excellent this year. With all of this in mind, we are determined to root out the offenders and we are appealing for the public's help.

"We want to hear from anyone who witnesses anything suspicious and we want anyone with any information about either the plate thefts or the drive offs.

"Working in partnership with the public, we intend to ensure that the number is up for these registration plate thieves."

Contact police direct on 01282 425001 or to call the confidential Crimestoppers hotline free on 0800 555 111.