POLICE have pledged to step up patrols in a town centre street after a spate of car crime.

Officers in Darlington say a number of vehicles in Brunswick Street have been broken into or vandalised in recent weeks.

One woman returned to her car to find £700-worth of damage.

She said: "It's getting to the point where I'm scared when I go back to my car at night to see what they've done next. These people are just mindless vandals."

A man had the tyres of his car slashed and the wing mirror smashed, costing £420.

Other motorists have reported windscreen wipers being snapped off or windows smashed and property stolen.

PC Brian Hadden, of Darlington police, said cars were being targeted from 6pm to 10pm, adding: "We obviously need to keep a close eye on the area."

He urged people parking their cars there or elsewhere in the town to lock bags and valuables out of sight.

A Darlington Borough Council spokeswoman said community wardens patrolled the road but there were no plans to increase their presence.