FUEL thieves have met their match in Cliviger because local residents are watching them.

A spate of petrol syphoning spurred residents in Burnley Road into action and they opted to lose sleep and work in three hour shifts through the night patrolling their area.

They also produced posters which have gone up all over the village and on vehicles to deter thieves.

Police have stepped up mobile patrols in the area as part of Operation Fortress, the division's year long crime crackdown initiative

They are advising residents to park vehicles on driveways or in highly visible locations.

George Greaves, 44, a machine operator at Papermarc, in Burnley, said: "After one of the cars nearby had its petrol syphoned a neighbour Linda Dickinson suggested we get together and form a group to patrol the area.

"She produced posters on the computer which the children in the village helped to distribute

"I was up between 2am and 5am patrolling the vehicles and checking the streets

"I think it has instilled a bit of community spirit. People only had a bit of fuel left and it was very important to them so they can get from A to B. Inspector Steve Hartley issued a warning to petrol thieves saying: "Firstly your action is dangerous and people have been injured in the past syphoning petrol both by swallowing fuel and by it igniting.

"Secondly it is an offence of theft with a maximum sentence could be five years imprisonment.

"We are vigilant and if anybody sees anyone acting suspiciously they should contact the police. We are fully operational, we have full fuel tanks and we will be able to respond."

Police are particularly interested in any information about a dirty black Peugeot 205 or Fiesta type vehicle which was parked on Burnley Road, Cliviger, at 1.20pm on Thursday at the time of a burglary at a nearby farmhouse.

Also this week Operation Fortress officers have been targeting the Burnley Wood area with a 'Must Arrest' list.

Search warrants have been executed and 12 people had been arrested, some have been charged with offences, some are awaiting court appearances and some have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Stolen property and drugs has been recovered from addresses -- in some cases the stolen property was recovered from burglaries only committed hours earlier.