POLICE in the Leigh sub-division covering Leigh, Tyldesley, Atherton, Hindley and Golborne this week reported a 42.5 per cent increase in thefts from vehicles during April and May.

They recorded 208 offences compared to 146 during the same period last year.

Inspector Bill Dyke of the operational policing unit said: "The problem is this is such an easy crime to commit. The frustrating thing is it is also easy to prevent but you must help yourselves.

A thief with nothing better to do will spend as long as is necessary just looking for the right target, the one vehicle that has got something on display.

It might be a bag of shopping or a coat, a mobile phone or maybe just a bit of loose change in the console. The thief doesn't care and will cause hundreds of pounds worth of damage to the vehicle to get that property.

Prevention is just common sense. Don't leave anything on display in your vehicle.

If you do you are just making yourself the target and making it easy for

the thieves.

"I only nipped into the shop for a secon." Yes, thats all it takes for the

opportunist thief to relieve you of your hard earned valuables.

Vehicle crime prevention information leaflets are available at police stations or contact the police crime prevention advisor Ian Halliwell on 0161 856 7262.