An anti car crime campaign has been launched by the Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council's Community Warden Team, Cheshire Police and the Safer Communities Partnership to put the brakes on car thieves. This follows the withdrawal of support for the existing scheme from the Home Office.

All motorists are being urged not to tempt thieves by leaving valuables on display and to be extra vigilant and remove valuables and other personal possessions from their vehicles.

Whilst out patrolling the borough the Community Wardens will be on the lookout for valuables left unattended in vehicles. The registration details will be taken of any vehicle found with items left unattended. This information will then be passed onto the Police, who will advise the Wardens of the vehicle owner's address. The Wardens will then issue an advisory letter and Vehicle Crime Prevention Leaflet to the registered keeper.

Belongings such as mobile phones, handbags, lap top computers, CD players and satellite navigation kits are on thieves' 'most wanted' list, with shopping bags also becoming a firm favourite. Motorists are failing to remove devices from windscreens and dashboards - which make easy pickings for opportunist thieves.

Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities, Councillor Rachel Bailey said: 'We are encouraging all car owners to remove any valuables on display in their vehicle, as this is proven to drastically reduce the likelihood of a theft being committed. Just a few minutes spent placing personal items in the boot or removing them from your vehicle may prevent a ruined day out. I know only too well how upsetting and distressing it is to discover your car has been broken into and the inconvenience it causes'.

Mark Cotton, Crime Reduction Advisor for Cheshire Police agreed that lack of care by drivers was a problem. "The Community Wardens, Parking Attendants, Home Watch and the CCTV centre all work together with the police to combat vehicle crime, and if the Wardens and attendants see drivers being careless about security they will talk to the driver reducing car crime and send them an educational letter. The ultimate aim of this initiative is to reduce car crime and the effect on vehicle owners".

Another aspect of vehicle crime in which the Wardens are involved, in partnership with the DVLA, is the reporting of unlicensed vehicles. On average 25 vehicles a month, which have been illegally driving around on the borough's streets without excise licenses, have been reported.