CHILDREN ready to embark on their annual six-week summer holiday of car crime are urged by police: "Don't do it!"

Acting Sergeant Conrad Tapp spoke out as officers braced themselves for a rise in the theft of items from vehicles which coincides with schools breaking up in Blackburn.

This year, extra resources are being deployed into hotspot areas.

Sgt Tapp said that meant children ending up with a criminal record which may make it harder for them to find employment in the future. "We want the kids to behave themselves and not get mixed up with the wrong crowd and commit crime as a result of peer pressure. And parents should keep an eye on their children and not let them get involved with the wrong crowd."

In June last year there were 152 incidents of car crime in the town. After the schools had broken up in July there were 197 and 192 in August. The figure fell to 154 in September as the children returned to school.

Hotspot areas were the town-centre car parks, Highercroft, Mosley Street and Mill Hill.