EXTRA police patrols are being put into Darlington's town centre and parks in an effort to prevent a repeat of summer robberies that took place last year.

Supt Phil Aspey, Darlington police's divisional commander, said the summer holidays last year saw a spate of youngsters being assaulted by thieves wanting their expensive bikes.

Others were assaulted for their mobile phones.

This year, he said, police would not just be sitting back and waiting for it to happen again.

Supt Aspey said: "We are putting patrols into the areas where it happened last year, which is particularly the town centre and some of the parks areas."

So far, in the early stages of the holidays, there had not been such problems, he said.

Supt Aspey urged people with bikes to take care where they go and not leave them lying around.

He added that Darlington police were also continuing efforts to make people aware of the problems of thieves targeting items in cars and how to reduce them.

All too often, he said, people are leaving items on view in their cars and making themselves easy targets for thieves.

He said: "You can be certain if you leave property like a coat, handbag, bag or mobile phone in view in the car, it will go."

Traffic wardens and police are making a note of car registrations where items are left on show and the owners are being written to, advising them on the problems and how not to get caught out.

"It's frustrating for us that we are reducing other types of crime, but people aren't helping themselves by leaving easily disposable goods on view," said Supt Aspey.

Anybody who would like crime prevention advice can call Darlington police on (01325) 467681