EIGHT suspected car thieves have been arrested after being caught in a sting operation.

Police raided eight addresses in the Middlesbrough area yesterday morning and arrested six men and two youths, aged between 16 and 30.

People were caught on video when they broke into booby-trapped cars which had been fitted with hidden cameras.

Detective Inspector Heather Eastwood, of Middlesbrough police's intelligence unit, said the cars rigged with cameras were deployed as part of a continuing crackdown on car criminals, dubbed Operation Hassocks.

She said: "We have been using these 'rat trap cars' very successfully for more than a year now. Operation Hassocks has been running for nearly 12 months, and we have seen significant numbers of criminals brought to justice, and a fall in the number of offences being committed."

She added: "Criminals may not be arrested at the time, due to the nature of the operation. But like those arrested this morning, they may well be getting a knock on the door later.

"All thieves look for easy pickings, and this operation has been their downfall."

As soon as a thief opens the car door, they trigger the cameras that are hidden inside, enabling police to capture them on film and put them before the court with overwhelming evidence of their crime.

Det Insp Eastwood said: "It is surprising how many people still leave mobile phones, wallets and even laptops on display. Sadly, this is an open invitation to the opportunist thief, as it takes a matter of seconds to break into and steal from a car."

She urged drivers to take simple precautions: "Please think before you leave valuables unattended in your car. Always remove your sat nav system and its cradle from the car and ensure any tell-tale sucker marks are wiped off the windscreen.

"Car crime is falling in Middlesbrough, but we need the help of the public to make sure this continues, especially with the dark nights around the corner."