POLICE in Pennine Division have launched a hard-hitting campaign to crack down on car crime after a massive rise over the last year.

Despite repeated warnings about car crime, thousands of motorists are still gambling with their vehicles and valuables according to police who launch a new hard hitting crime-prevention campaign this week.

The campaign is in response to a 50 per cent increase in car crime across Pennine Division - most of which police estimate is opportunist crime, committed because motorists are either leaving their vehicles insecure or with valuable items clearly on view.

According to local figures, a total of 729 people have fallen prey to car thieves since April 1, compared to around 550 last year, and police say that figure will rise unless the public start looking after their property and protecting valuables from opportunist thieves. The worst hit areas have been Burnley, Nelson and Bacup.

The new car crime campaign will feature a whole host of different tactics including a car crime awareness week running until next week with police roadshows at venues throughout Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale; vulnerable vehicle spot-checks; hot spot mailshots; posters; and car crime advice surgeries.

Inspector Jeff Brown from Pennine Division's Community Safety Team, said: "The idea behind the campaign is to raise awareness of the current car crime problem and highlight the high stakes motorists are gambling with every day by not securing their vehicle and contents.