DRIVERS who make life easy for criminals by leaving valuable items on show in their cars are to get a warning from the police.
Opportunist thieves take just seconds to smash a window and grab their haul.
Police and traffic wardens have stepped up patrols in known high vehicle crime areas across Calderdale.
Det Chief Insp Martin Jordan, head of Calderdale CID, said that if vehicles were found with valuables left on display, letters would be sent to the owners with crime prevention advice.
It would be a gentle reminder to the owners to take more care and not make themselves an easy target.
Det Chief Insp Jordan added: "Some motorists are becoming complacent and leaving property on view when they are not in their vehicles.
"This is a magnet to thieves, who are being handed easy pickings on a plate."
Car crime in Calderdale - which takes in Brighouse and Elland - has fallen in recent years. But there has been a slight upsurge during the summer.
From April to July last year Calderdale police recorded 1,806 vehicle crimes. This year, 1,492 similar crimes have been recorded over the same period, a fall of almost 18%.
Det Chief Insp Jordan said: "While these figures are very encouraging, the reality is that we had a particularly good April and May when the figures dropped nicely.
"But they began to rise again through June and July. I think people have simply let their guard down again, believing this sort of crime could not possibly happen to them.
"It is perhaps timely to send out this warning, so motorists can prevent themselves becoming victims and stop the frustration and inconvenience that goes with such crimes.
"The reality is that many of these crimes could be prevented through a little more thought. The public can help themselves and reduce the risk of being victims of vehicle crime."
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