Car criminals targeted in ongoing police operation.

4:08pm Tuesday 1st May 2007

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Kidderminster's Greenhill, Broadwaters and Foley Park areas will be the focus of a continuing police campaign to tackle car crime across Wyre Forest.

Thefts of and from motor vehicles in Wyre Forest have fallen by a third since the February launch of Operation Intern when officers targeted 12 prolific offenders, dubbed the 'dirty dozen'.

Officers are keen to see further reductions and are now targeting a smaller number of offenders believed to be actively engaged in car crime while appealing for the public to provide more information via the Crimestoppers hotline.

Detective Inspector Dean Jones, who is leading the drive, said: "Operation Intern is an ongoing exercise and we are determined to build upon the reductions in car crime already achieved in Wyre Forest.

"We are now looking to disrupt the activities of a hard core of around six offenders known to be involved in car crime and will be raising public awareness of vehicle security in general through leaflet drops in hotspots such as Greenhill, Broadwaters and Foley Park, as well as using our new talking signs to get the message across at car parks and other sites.

"The public can also play a big part in helping us gather intelligence by reporting any incidents or suspicious activity. For instance, criminals wouldn't break into cars if there wasn't a market for stolen goods such as sat-navs and laptops and we need to know when and where such items are offered for sale."

He added officers would be using high visibility patrols to deter car criminals as well as using specially adapted squad cars fitted with the ANPR - Automatic Number Plate Recognition - system.

He went on: "Vehicle crime is still a concern in Wyre Forest and we have no intention of letting it slip back to the levels experienced at the start of the year. We will be redoubling our efforts and our message to the criminals is that we're not going away until the problem does."

People with information about car crime should contact Kidderminster Police on 08457 444888 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.