MOTORISTS who leave valuables on view in their vehicles may receive a letter from Teesdale police.

The move is the latest initiative aimed at reducing thefts from parked cars, especially those left at remote beauty spots, and has been tried successfully in the past, Insp David Allaway told members of the local crime prevention panel on Wednesday.

"If officers see property laid on view they will make a note of the licence plate and a letter will be sent to the registered keeper asking them not to leave valuables on display," said the Insp.

"We want to remind people, especially visitors, to take valuables with them, or lock them out of sight."

The inspector's comments came after he told the panel how Durham Constabulary had been named top in the country in resolving crime problems.

This had been achieved in part by targeting those responsible, which in turn led to higher detection rates. He also paid tribute to crime prevention schemes in the dale, such as Farm Watch and Horse Watch, and to members of the public.

But he warned against complacency, saying that although the detection rate in Teesdale had risen by 36pc, in general terms reported crime during the past two months had been higher.

The number of burglaries had halved this month, but the number of thefts from shops and vehicles was up, hence the idea of targeting motorists with letters.

Travelling criminals were beginning to target rural areas again now that foot-and-mouth was no longer keeping farmers confined to their homes, so people needed to be extra vigilant.

"We are now starting to get reports of thefts from farms and isolated houses," said Insp Allaway, who has been asked to chair a new Theft and Handling task group, which will look at ways to reduce the opportunity for theft