CRAFTY crooks are forever on the lookout for new ways to get their hands on your property and that is just what they are doing throughout Trafford at the moment.

Opportunist car thieves are chancing their arm by peaking through letterboxes and looking for any keys left nearby.

There are two such thefts a week in some areas of the borough, with local bobbies concerned about the rapid rise in incidents.

Community safety officer at Altrincham police, PC Tony Crompton tells SUM: "Because of the improvements to car security in recent years, a car is more use and more valuable to a thief with the keys included and many homes are broken into for that reason.

"Currently we are seeing a growing trend of keys being stolen through letterboxes by crooks using long canes with hooks or magnets on to fish the keys from the hallway.

"The only way to stop them easily is to take away the option and keep car keys out of sight - especially at night time."

DS Dave Callan from Stretford police adds: "Many people leave their keys on the side near to the front door but that is ideal for these type of opportunists.

"They could have had the keys out of the house and driven off off before the resident spots anything out of the ordinary. Stretford itself has been targeted twice in the last week alone.

"We need to get the message across for people who may be unwittingly helping thieves on their way to take their keys to bed with them at night and keep them out of sight at all times.

"If thieves get no joy then they will be stopped in their tracks and victims will be spared the heartache of losing their car."

For any advice on crime prevention call the Community Safety Officers at Stretford, PC Paul Berry on 856-7746, or Altrincham, PC Tony Crompton on 856-7546.