CAR thieves have been busy in Huddersfield over the last few days.

Now we need the public to help us to trace the missing vehicles and catch the culprits.

Once again we would urge people never to leave the engine running or the keys in the ignition - not even for seconds - and always hide your car keys even when you're at home.

There is a kind of burglary called Hanoi Burglaries where thieves spot cars they want to steal and then burgle the house searching specifically for the car keys.

This means they can then bypass all the latest high-tech security gadgets, get in the car and go.

Thieves broke into a house at Langdale Drive in Dalton in the early hours of Thursday and stole the keys to a blue Peugeot 206 parked outside.

The car - registration number YD52 JVH - is still missing.

A beige Citroen Xsara was left for a few moments by its owner at Carr Lane in Slaithwaite at 7am on Monday.

A white Ford Transit van with two men in it drew up, one got out, jumped into the car and drove it away.

The Citroen, registration number BT03 ABF, remains missing.

Thieves stole a Citroen Picasso - registration number Y935 VOS - from Mitchell Avenue in Waterloo on Monday night.

A white Ford Escort, registration number E892 JBC, was taken from High Street in Paddock in the early hours of Tuesday.

A blue Kawasaki 750cc motorbike stolen at Upper Fold, Honley, was found dumped and damaged in the village.

POLICE believe car criminals now active in Huddersfield have links to Barnsley.

A red Vauxhall Nova stolen from Newsome on Monday night was found burned out in Barnsley on Tuesday.

A Rover Metro stolen in Barnsley was found dumped at Barnsley Road in Flockton late on Wednesday night.

A Ford Escort taken from Colwyn Street in Marsh was found dumped in a field off Barnsley Road in Flockton at 12.50am yesterday. Attempts had been made to set it on fire.