CAR crooks are being caught out after council bosses placed a vehicle laden with expensive goodies on show in a town centre car park.

Eleven thieves were snared in the sting before Christmas.

And each has admitted up to 130 car offences, councillors have been told in a report.

The vehicle, details of which are being kept under wraps so the scheme can continue, is put on car parks with expensive gadgets easily on view.

The operation, on council-owned car parks around Blackburn and Darwen, was today hailed a great success by Coun Andy Kay, in charge of regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council.

He said: "The sting car is an innovative way of catching those hell bent on committing vehicle crime.

"Whilst to most of us seeing something of value inside a locked car means nothing, to some it is just too tempting an opportunity to steal.

"This scheme offers a warning to criminals that what may seem too good to be true is just that.

"If the temptation proves too strong to resist they may just rue the day they tried as the sting car will capture all the information the police need.

"I would urge all car owners not to leave anything on display in their vehicle as this is tempting."

The scheme is one of several aimed at making sure criminals know Blackburn with Darwen is not a soft-touch area for thieves.

Other joint police and council projects include ensuring that all of Twin Valley Homes' 8,000 properties get security upgrades to make them harder to break into.

A new nominate a neighbour' project in Bank Top has also been hailed a success.

It involves a volunteer in a street agreeing to vet people turning up at the homes of vulnerable people.

When someone arrives at a house, the person will show a card in their window which directs the caller to the volunteer's house who vets them.