A POLICE operation designed to put the brakes on car crooks has slashed vehicle crime by almost a third and led to 70 arrests.

The vehicle crime unit was set up last summer to reduce car crime in the town and comprises officers from the crime car unit, community action teams and special initiative teams.

Crime patterns were analysed to spot areas which attracted crooks and intelligence was compiled to identify the most prolific offenders.

The team's tactics detected 250 offences and led to numerous arrests.

Over nine months, the team reduced the number of vehicle crimes per months from 300 to 208.