CAR crime in Redditch is being tackled in a new initiative which police hope will combat the recent rise in thefts from vehicles.

Operation Predator is focussing on Redditch's south west area, where the number of incidents is highest.

The crackdown will be rolled out into other areas where peaks in car crime are experienced.

Sgt Julian Smith said: "This isn't a situation we're prepared to tolerate and are determined to reverse this trend with this robust operation."

Police say several patterns have become visible in car crimes over the last few weeks, including the use of mobile phones to detect laptops inside cars.

Sgt Smith said: "We're also continuing to see high-value items such as laptops and satellite navigation systems left on show in vehicles and again, opportunist thieves are smashing a window and helping themselves.

"Offenders are also breaking into cars where they see the cradle or sucker marks indicating a sat-nav system has been used in the car as they know many motorists will hide these under a seat or in the glove box."

Other trends include vans' back doors being forced open to steal power tools and stereos being stolen from older cars.

Police have produced a "Vulnerable Vehicle Scheme" leaflet to show how to best keep cars secure and are asking owners to park inside a locked garage wherever possible and remove all valuables.