POLICE in Pendle have launched an intiative to combat thefts from vehicles as part of major crime crackdown in the borough.

The Vulnerable Vehicle scheme, part of the forces Operation Fix, will see the owners of vehicles who leave items on display receive free crime prevention advice from police.

Patrols will note down the registration numbers of such vehicles and write to the owners with advice.

The move comes in response to an increase in the theft of visible goods left on car seats, including mobile phones, jackets, handbags and purses.

Superintendent Steve Hartley, said the scheme, would follow on from work to stamp out car crime in the borough. It would concetrate in particulalry on Brierfield, where the problems have been the worst.

He said: "It is both opportunist and planned crime. Thieves are looking for insecure cars.

"There is a group of youths in Nelson who have been targeted by the police and arrests have been made.

"We are continuing to target these youths and these will be arrested."

Opeartion Fix will see extra resources, including mounted police, high visibility patrols and a mobile CCTV van employed in response to an increase in reports of burgalarly and car crime.

Local residents are being encouraged to work with community beat managers and police community support officers to deter thieves and reduce crime levels.

Supt Hartley told residents to report any suspicious activity to the police.

He added: "It could be someone hanging around an alleyway or looking into a car.

"Anyone seeing suspicious activity should report it to police, especially if the people acting suspiciously have something distinctive about them."