FIFTY cars are being stolen every week from the streets of Bury.

And a similar number are broken into weekly by thieves with Prestwich, Radcliffe's Top of the Cross and the Fairfield area of Bury taking the brunt of the problem.

Figures published in Bury's Crime and Disorder Audit Report show that between April 2000 and March of last year, a total of 2446 cars disappeared while 2,748 vehicles were broken in to. A further 2,045 were damaged in association with the attempted theft of or from vehicles.

A total of 7,239 vehicle related crimes were recorded during the twelve month period.

Other figures show that when it comes to crime in general, Bury town centre is top of the league.

According to the same report, the the town centre experienced the highest level of crime than any other police beat area.

Between April 2000 and March 2001, a total of 1,139 offences were committed in the town centre with Prestwich village second in the crime league with 1,057 recorded crimes. Radcliffe's Top of the Cross area was in third place with 1,006 incidents.

Other statistics show that during the same period, incidents of criminal damage topped the league of crime, a total of 4,334 offences, with theft from vehicles, theft of vehicles and house burglaries, 2,366, completing the top four.

There were also 97 recorded offences of rape or indecent assault against women and 21 similar type incidents against men.

A total of 21,420 crimes were recorded during the twelve month period -- down 5.81 percent on the previous year.