POLICE patrols are being stepped up to combat a car crime craze hitting Teesside.

Thieves are smashing their way into vehicles to steal satellite navigation systems, usually targeting the cars of visitors parked up for several hours in Middlesbrough.

Laptop computers, car stereos and mobile telephones are also on the Christmas wish list of smash-and-grab thieves.

Undercover surveillance stakeouts by police of crime hotspots as well as an increase in high-visibility patrols by police, police community support officers and street wardens are targeting times when thieves are known to operate.

A radio campaign is also being mounted to run alongside the police operation, which has been called Operation Hatch. The radio messages will urge drivers to lock their cars and put any property left in the car out of view.

Detective Sergeant Steve Young, from Middlesbrough CID, says the theft of satellite navigation systems is a recent crime trend.

"The problem is many systems sit in a cradle that is fixed to the car dashboard and are visible to any opportunist thief,'' he said.

"Even if the system is removed from the cradle, the thieves are still breaking into vehicles in case the device is hidden under the seat or placed in the glove box.''

He added: "We need to hammer home the message to drivers - if you come into town, make the effort to check your car before you lock it and leave it. It could spare you an awful lot of inconvenience and expense in repairs.''

Det Sgt Young said: "Remember, it only takes seconds for a thief to smash a window, grab what is on view and make a quick search. Don't put temptation in their way - put all valuables out of sight. If nothing is on show, the opportunist thief will move on.''

He added: "A radio campaign running alongside our policing operation will be reminding motorists on their way to work on a morning to remove everything on view.

"It's not rocket science, it just prevents car crime.''