CLEVELAND Police plan to show car thieves the red card with an unusual initiative.

Every Middlebrough FC supporter who buys a season ticket is being issued with a Know the Score card designed to reduce match day car crime.

Middlesbrough's crime prevention officer Sergeant Glynn Bass said: "Football fans are easy targets on match days, thieves know that their cars are left unattended for the duration of the game and that is when they strike.

"We want to put the boot in with this initiative and blow the whistle on their thieving activities.

"If motorists make sure that there is nothing to steal from their cars and nothing on view like mobile phones, bags or jackets even if there's nothing in them, they will reduce the chance of becoming a victim of this type of crime.

"If we all do our bit and our football team do their bit, visiting thieves and teams will go home empty handed this season."

Postcards carrying the Know the Score message are being issued to about 20,000 adult supporters who have renewed their season ticket.

For more information, contact Sgt Bass on (01642) 303108.