POLICE have come up with a crafty way to catch car criminals.

Covert capture cars are to be used in Huddersfield for the first time.

The cars are left in crime hotspot areas and often prove too tempting for the thieves.

But once they get inside them, officers watching nearby can remotely immobilise the cars and nab the crooks.

Det Sgt Paul O'Dowd, of West Yorkshire Police in Kirklees, said: "Our capture cars look like any other vehicle and could be located anywhere in the district over the coming weeks.

"We want car thieves themselves to suffer the misery caused by car crime rather than law-abiding members of the public.

"This is a great tactic for us. It puts the fear of crime firmly back on the criminal where it belongs."

Police have also urged people not to leave tempting targets inside their cars for thieves to steal.

Police officers, police community support officers and street wardens will be out in force handing out crime prevention leaflets to shoppers, explaining the risks of leaving valuables on view.

Det Sgt O'Dowd added: "We want the public to play their part too in reducing vehicle crime.

"Don't leave anything visible on car seats or load up your car with Christmas presents and then set off back into town to do more shopping.

"It's also surprising how many people forget to lock their cars, so double check before you leave your vehicle."

He added: "Thieves are also on the look-out for car satellite navigation systems.

"They are relatively easy to remove and are not security-coded in the way car hi-fi systems are.

"If you do have a portable satellite navigation system, please remove it out of the car altogether when you are not driving.

"Do not leave it in your glove compartment as it is the first place thieves look."