'RAT-TRAP' cars are being used by police in Burnley to catch out thieves breaking into vehicles this Easter.

The cars, which will be monitored by police and cameras, will be parked in locations around Burnley and left with property on show in a bid to attract thieves.

The move has been prompted by an increase in car crime over the past two weeks -- which police fear could escalate over the holiday period if action is not taken.

Police chiefs are urging motorists to heed crime prevention warnings to lock their cars and remove valuable items from the vehicle.

Burnley Inspector Andy Moore said: "A lot of work is being done to tackle vehicle crime in Burnley and this will continue over the Easter period.

"We're carrying out extra patrols in hot spot areas and we're deploying more so-called 'rat-trap' cars in a bid to catch offenders in the act.

"We're also calling on extra resources from our dog handling and support unit teams.

"However all this work is futile to some extent if people continue to flaunt their property in front of thieves.

"As long as people leave valuable items on view, the thieves will continue to be active."

"We need people to park their cars in a secure well lit area, ensure doors and windows are secure and if they have a car alarm or immobiliser they need to use it.

"We also need people who have removable CD player/stereos to remove them and to ensure that there are no valuable items in their car. "

In one recent theft more than £600 worth of goods were taken from a car - a hand-held computer, a mobile phone, jacket, wallet and purse - which police say could have been avoided if they weren't left on view.

He added: "We've had some terrific successes in the fight against car crime with offenders caught breaking into our "rat trap" cars or thieves tracked down at a later date as a result of advances in forensic science techniques.

"Many of them are now serving prison sentences and increasingly they are also being subjected to Anti-Social Behaviour Orders which also curtail their activity.

"All I ask now is that the public show us their support by assisting us in this fight against crime.

"By simply following basic crime prevention advice they can make a big difference to this perennial problem and avoid the misery of becoming a victim of crime this Easter."