POLICE in Darlington have written to 1,200 motorists who have left items on display in their cars, warning of thieves.

The Home Office told police in 2000 that car crime in Darlington had to be cut by 30pc by 2005.

But figures for last year show that car crime rose by 35pc in in the town.

Insp Paul Unsworth, from Darlington Community Safety Partnership, said the Home Office compared the Darlington police division to other divisions across the country and placed it at the bottom of the group for car crime.

He said: "They said in relation to vehicle crime we were below average, in fact, really well below average."

Insp Unsworth said a campaign - Operation Tannin - had already been launched to tackle car crime, which had resulted in a 4.6pc reduction between January and May this year.

"We feel we are having a positive effect," he said. "We are working hard to do something about it and it's important that people realise that."

Police are also handing out yellow stickers for motorists to place in their cars, which warn potential thieves that all valuables have been removed.

Officers hope the stickers, which read 'Don't bother - this vehicle has been emptied of all valuable items', will help reduce the number of cars broken into by up to 60pc.

Insp Unsworth said: "We still have a big problem with thefts from motor vehicles in Darlington.

"A lot of it is preventable. What we want is for people to stop leaving items on display in their cars, be it on the seats or in a footwell.

"Thieves will see a coat on the back seat of a car and although they don't want the coat, they'll break in to see if there is a wallet in the pocket.

"They will cause hundreds of pounds worth of damage, all for nothing, and leave the motorist with a big problem."

The stickers have a checklist for motorists to remind them to remove personal belongings from the car.