POLICE in Ellesmere Port have got tough on vehicle crime in the area.

Neighbourhood teams have been quick to react to a recent rise in the number of vehicles stolen, damaged or having items stolen from them with extra patrols dedicated to targeting would-be thieves.

Recent examples of vehicle thefts included a Honda CR off-road motorbike which was stolen from a secure garage in Waverton Road, Ellesmere Port.

Two cars were also stolen. One was a Renault Traffic taken from the Grace pub car park, and a Rover Mini was taken from an address in Chester Road, Childer Thornton.

This vehicle was later stopped by Merseyside Police in the Liverpool tunnel and the offender was arrested.

There have been several thefts from vehicles over the past week.

Items stolen include a purse and house keys taken from an insecure Renault Clio parking in The Harn and various clothing, vouchers and electrical items taken from an insecure Ford Fiesta in Park Road, Ellesmere Port.

In Clover Birches, Ellesmere Port, two insecure vehicles were entered and a sat-nav system was removed from a Kia Picanto along with the keys to a Suzuki Alto which was also parked at the location.

Three males were then disturbed by the owner trying to push the vehicle off the driveway and on to the road.

Inspector Peter Case of the Ellesmere Port and Neston neighbourhood policing team said: “November saw a slight increase in reported crime in relation to theft from motor vehicles compared with figures for April to November.

“The majority of crimes reported were of items stolen from insecure vehicles and the theft of vehicle number plates.

“We have responded to the recent increase by implementing a number of policing operations and performed roadshows regarding crime prevention.

“As a result, during the first week of December we have again seen a significant reduction in reported vehicle crime.

“I am conscious we are approaching Christmas and would like to ask the public to protect their property by not leaving it on display in their vehicles and ensuring their vehicles are secure when left by them in public, but also on their drives at home.

“Don’t make it easy for opportunist thieves.”