POLICE in Darlington have launched an operation to crack down on the increasing problem of vehicle crime.

Gangs of opportunist thieves are operating in the town. The thieves, many of them youngsters, travel around Darlington at all hours, checking parked cars for satellite navigation equipment, mobile phones, bags, and stereos to steal.

Operation Droplet was launched last month and involves almost all police officers - from detectives to uniformed beat officers and specialist undercover teams.

The officers are targeting crime hotspots - such as parts of the West End, the vicinity of Darlington College, Northgate and the Bank Top area.

Police will also set up a number of "rat traps" - vehicles that contain items that are tempting to thieves.

Officers will then lie in wait for crooks to spot the items and arrest them when they break into the car.

Inspector Chris Reeves, of Darlington police, said the operation was two-fold.

"We will arrest these people but we also want the public to remove all their valuables from their cars when they park them, even they are just gone for a short time.

"If you leave valuables in your car, you may as well leave your things in a glass display case in the street because that has the same security."

Car break-ins have fallen in recent years - but the theft of satellite navigation equipment is increasing.

The most recent figures show that, in the past six months in County Durham, more than 100 systems have been stolen - more than 90 in Darlington.

Insp Reeves said: "Operation Droplet will run until we have reduced vehicle crime or we have arrested all the people responsible. There is also another crime here - the people who are buying and selling these items on."

He warned people who were tempted to buy stolen equipment that, if caught, they would be arrested and prosecuted. He said: "Most people will know these items are stolen because they are offered without boxes and at knockdown prices."

The police advise motorists to remove all traces of satellite navigation equipment from their cars - including the cradle and any sucker marks that are left on the windscreen - as thieves will break in anyway, believing the equipment has been hidden.