AN operation to crack down on car thieves in Darlington has resulted in ten arrests, police revealed last night.

Operation Caraway was launched last month in response to hundreds of vehicle break-ins in the town.

During one week in April, 60 cars were broken into. Last week the figure had been cut to 36.

Detective Constable Mark O'Brien, from Darlington police, said the operation was proving a success.

He said: "It's been a steady downward turn from the peak at 60. There have been ten arrests and three of those people have been charged with theft. There are more arrests to come based on the evidence we have got."

Det Con O'Brien said the 36 break-ins last week were almost all of property that had been left on view in vehicles.

He said: "It's not particularly radio cassettes which are being taken. It's all very quick snatches of bags and, generally, youths on pedal cycles who are doing it."

He said police believed a nucleus of about eight youths were carrying out the majority of the break-ins.

"We have now got a list of offenders who we can put forward as possible suspects and see if the forensic evidence matches up," he said.

"It's an ongoing operation and is not set to finish for the foreseeable future. We want to keep these figures down and hopefully push them down further."