THIEVES from Barnsley carrying out car crime in the Huddersfield area are being targeted by police from two forces.

Officers from West Yorkshire Police are working closely with colleagues just over the border in South Yorkshire to clamp down on the problem.

Now officers on patrol from the two forces can talk directly to one another on their radios.

Early warning systems and action plans have been set up if Barnsley officers know criminals are heading towards Huddersfield.

Several arrests have already been made.

The thieves have often targeted Ford cars.

The crimes usually happen at night and the thieves then escape back across the border into the Barnsley area.

Huddersfield crime manager Det Chief Insp Tony Craven said: "We have already arrested and charged a number of people from the Barnsley area, mostly in connection with car crime.

"We are taking the fight beyond West Yorkshire across the border and using the full force of the law to reduce criminality."

He added: "Despite cutting crime locally we are being disproportionately affected by this cross border crime.

"On two separate occasions during one week in mid January we had 16 thefts from vehicles in Huddersfield. This figure is usually around half a dozen or less per day.

"Many of these thefts have been from Ford Focus cars, usually CD players. Alloy wheels are also being stolen, especially from Audi TTs."

The main areas targeted by the thieves are Flockton, Grange Moor and Clayton West.

Det Chief Insp Craven added: "By working together with other colleagues we want to send a clear message to criminals that we are out there and will be pursuing them relentlessly.

"Officers have worked extremely effectively across a wide area regardless of force boundaries. We are doing our best to deter people from travelling to commit offences."

Now if a car is stolen in Barnsley, South Yorkshire Police alert their colleagues in West Yorkshire immediately so they can be on the lookout for it travelling into their area.

Many of the thieves travel around in stolen vehicles.

Recent arrests include:

* A 33-year-old Barnsley man held in Huddersfield on January 3. He was charged with burglary and bailed to appear at Bradford Crown Court on February 21.

* A 32-year-old Barnsley man was arrested on January 5 and interviewed in connection with vehicles being stolen from the Waterloo area. He has been bailed pending further inquiries.

* A 22-year-old man was arrested in Barnsley on January 10 in connection with vehicles stolen two days before in the Fenay Bridge area.

The man was charged with 22 offences including deception and taking without consent. He has been remanded in custody to appear at Huddersfield Magistrates' Court in March.