Police have launched a double crackdown on car criminals who plague Brentwood's country parks.

In a dual attack on thieves officers have carried out an undercover operation at King George's Playing Fields in Hartswood followed by a high profile blitz on other parks, with leaflets warning motorists to be vigilant.

And, according to new figures released by police, car crime has fallen by eight per cent in the areas targeted.

Inspector Peter French, of Brentwood Police, said: "We have seen a reduction in vehicle crime but we have got to keep it going.

"The level of vehicle crime in this borough is unacceptable."

Month after month visitors to the area's parks return to their cars to find that they have been broken into and valuables stolen.

Often bags, mobile phones, expensive laptop computers or other goods are left on display, an invitation to roving thieves.

Now police, working with Brentwood Borough Council, have shown their determination to tackle the problem from both directions by hitting the criminals directly and encouraging crime prevention measures.

Insp French said the force would be continuing its efforts to catch the those responsible but stressed the importance of prevention.

"Most vehicle crime is opportunist," he said. "A lot of people are leaving items on display.

"And if the reward is there in front of them the thieves will go for it."

By simply not leaving items on display people can dramatically reduce their chances of becoming a victim of this form of car crime.

The police blitz on King George's Playing Fields came after intelligence work showed that up to 45 per cent of autocrime for the whole of the Brentwood area was being committed there. The town's many country parks often provide easy pickings for opportunist thieves, as visitors leave their vehicles for leisurely walks.

But Brentwood Police intend to make such pickings much harder.

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