POLICE are promising to get tough in their fight against thefts from unattended vehicles.

Operation Waiter is a Safer Ryedale Partnership response to vehicle break-ins at beauty spots across the district.

Officers and community support officers will be increasing the number of patrols in the affected areas to deter offenders and offer crime prevention advice.

National Park and Forestry Commission rangers will also be taking part and reporting any suspicious people or vehicles.

“Ryedale is a low crime area and because of this, people may become complacent. However, car crime only takes seconds to commit,” said Sergeant Roy Brown.

“I would remind people to lock and alarm their vehicles and remove all items of property from their vehicles when leaving them parked unattended in rural areas.”

He said that he wanted to reassure people that the police were dealing with the offenders that commit this type of crime.

“We have been targeting those criminals and with the addition and use of technical equipment we have been successful in arresting offenders from as far away as Newcastle.”