POLICE will target council-owned lock-up garages across the region as part of massive assault on car crime.

Detectives from the Northumbria, Durham, Cleveland and North Yorkshire police forces will be helped by local council key-holders in the search for stolen vehicles. The move is part of the month-long Operation Outlaw.

While police said most garages were let to genuine tenants, a significant number are known to be used as storage space for stolen vehicles, vehicle parts and other stolen goods.

Detective Sergeant Alan Morris, of Durham's stolen vehicles squad, said: "The raids being planned on garages means there will be no let-up in our determination to keep up the pressure in vehicle criminals."

Operation Outlaw has enjoyed some success since its launch on September 18 with police making 151 arrests for vehicle crime.

One of the most unusual finds came when officers searched a petrol station and service garage in Haswell, County Durham. They found two stolen four-wheel drive vehicles, one of which had been stolen to order in the Far East and shipped to this country.

The Mitsubishi Pajaro, worth up to £8,000 was bearing false number plates and up for sale on the garage forecourt.

Checks with the National Criminal Intelligence Service revealed it had been stolen in Japan and imported illegally.