POLICE are taking on car crime by appealing for tip-offs from the public.

Officers from Lancashire Constabulary's intelligence unit say they are alarmed at the high level of vehicle thefts and break-ins they have to deal with.

Car crime accounts for about a quarter of all recorded crime in the county, and one in three motorists are victims.

Vehicles are being stolen at the rate of one a minute - 28,608 were taken last year. A third of private vehicles and three-quarters of commercial vehicles are never recovered.

"Obviously these figures are disturbing," said Superintendent John Knowles, head of the intelligence unit, on Monday.

He is heading a year-long campaign called SMART - Stop Motor Crime and Ring Today - in which people are being urged to phone the free-phone Crimestoppers line - 0800 555111 - and pass on information anonymously.

"Really we are all victims of vehicle crime, even if only because we have to pay towards the £3 billion insurance premiums motor crime costs each year," added Mr Knowles.

"We cannot tackle the problem on our own and any information is useful, which is why Crimestoppers can be so helpful."

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