Police have launched new measures to combat rising car crime in Trowbridge.

There have been 170 vehicle break-ins reported in the town since January and police say many are preventable.

Pc Jeff Hudson, of Trowbridge police, said: "As police officers it is our duty to reduce crime but people can help us by helping themselves."

West Wiltshire District Council and Euro Car Parks, who manage The Shires and ASDA car park on its behalf, have joined forces with the police to try and educate drivers.

Wardens who check parked cars for tickets will now be logging the details of cars that are insecure, for example with windows left open or valuables inside.

Details will be passed to the police who will write to people to reinforce the message that thieves are more likely to target vulnerable vehicles.

Pc Hudson said: "These people are opportunists. If they have to smash a window to get in it will make a noise and attract attention but if the window is down it's easy to just reach in and grab something."

Julie Rose, area manager for Euro car parks, said: "We even have people who leave the doors open while they pop into a shop. Some even leave the car running and anyone could jump in and drive off."

The problem is not restricted to car parks, with only 31 of the 170 reported vehicle break-ins over the past seven months taking place in car parks.

Thieves also target cars parked outside homes and goods reported stolen range from sunglasses to laptop computers.

Pc Hudson said: "It is amazing the number of people who have an empty garage and don't put the car in it.

"If you put it in a garage and lock it that is something else that people have to go through and most garages can't be opened without making a noise."

The police are hoping this latest initiative will be as successful as the mobile phone scheme launched two months ago, which has seen the level of reported mobile phone thefts fall by 20 per cent compared to last year.

As part of that scheme shopkeepers keep registers of customers who have a phone repaired or unlocked. The register is open to police inspection. The police in turn pass on details of stolen phones to the shopkeepers so information will be on hand if the phone is taken into a shop.

The police are now considering a similar system in conjunction with second-hand shop owners to try and trace goods stolen from homes or cars.