POLICE have warned car owners to “lock up or lose it” after a spate of thefts around Burnley.
Officers have seen a rise in thieves targeting unlocked vehicles around Briercliffe Road, Pendle Way and Padiham Road.
Criminals are helping themselves to items left on display in cars including sat-navs, cash and bags.
But now Operation Fortress has been launched by police in a bid to clamp down on car crime.
A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “People are still leaving vehicles insecure and leaving property on display. Criminals will steal sat-navs, loose change, CDs, bags or anything that is left lying around.
“These crimes tend to happen overnight when no-one is around. Some of these people will do a dozen a night.
“We need to know at the time – if people do see anything suspicious they should report it then we can get sport down there straight away.”
Police are also calling on homeowners to ensure their sheds and locked, secured and checked regularly over the winter months.
Thieves have been targeting insecure sheds in the town and stealing lawn movers, hedge cutters and other gardening equipment.
Residents have been urged to report break-ins so police can monitor criminal activity in hotspot areas and target thieves.
Anyone with information can contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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