POLICE are encouraging Great Harwood, Clayton Le Moors and Rishton vehicle owners to take more responsibility in an effort to drive down car crime.

Officers are patrolling neighbourhoods and giving out warnings to motorists who are giving thieves a chance to strike by leaving valuables on display.

Hundreds of local motorists have already been informed that it is up to them to take the simple but effective steps to deter thieves as part of the new initiative.

And police are hoping that their latest efforts will cut down the chances for opportunist thieves to strike.

Officers in Great Harwood police station's Team Two have special responsibility for auto crime and have launched Operation Entice.

It is designed to raise awareness among car and van owners about the simple steps they can take to reduce their chances of becoming victims of crime.

Sgt Richard Terry said: "While auto crime is at a low level in our area compared to neighbouring towns, there's no reason why we can't work with the public to reduce that further".

PC Nick Mattock said an average of five vehicles were stolen monthly, and in addition, between five and 10 vehices were broken into for personal belongings.

"We wanted to look at preventing, rather than simply reacting, to car crime," he emphasised.

"Because local auto crime figures are quite low, we have a bit more time to do this kind of work.

"We call it problem-orientated policing."

Officers, community beat managers and a community support officer are patrolling residential, commercial and rural areas, making sure they pay specific attention to parked vehicles, he said.

If they find an insecure car or van, or property displayed inside, they will tell the registered keeper of the risk to their vehicle.

Additionally, the police will supply owners with free Home Office crime-prevention literature.

Sgt Terry added: "While many of us always lock our cars as second nature, there are a large number of people about who don't do it.

"It's the really simple things - like making sure that you take all the property out of your vehicle and seeing to it that all your doors and boot are locked - that remain by far the most effective ways of ensuring that you don't become an unfortunate victim of auto crime."

Although the operation is in its early stages, it is already showing signs of success.

PC Mattock, who is a member of Team Two, added: "On the first night of the operation, we checked over 250 vehicles.

"The second night saw us revisiting those vehicles identified previously as being vulnerable and whose owners we had contacted under the scheme.

"And all but one of the owners had removed the property on display".