POLICE will be carrying out special patrols of car parks in the Malvern Hills throughout July in a bid to stamp out vehicle crime.

Officers with Malvern Hills Community Safety Partnership, as well as the Malvern Hills Conservators, will be carrying out the high-visibility patrols throughout this month, which it is hoped will act as a deterrent to potential criminals and also help to identify vulnerable vehicles.

The scheme, dubbed Operation Falcon, has been launched as police often see an increase in thefts from cars and other vehicles during the summer and early autumn months for a variety of reasons, such as owners forgetting to wind windows up when they park.

PC Cliff Green of Malvern Safer Neighbourhood Team said: "The Malvern Hills are justifiably a popular mecca for walkers and cyclists and crime is at a low level.

“We take pride in maintaining our town and countryside as a safe and pleasant place to live and to visit.

"Criminals will target areas where they expect easy pickings and Malvern is not one of those places, we do not want to give criminals a chance to spoil anyone's enjoyment of the hills."

The patrol teams will also be reminding vehicle owners, walkers and cyclists to keep their doors and windows locked and to keep valuables out of sight while enjoying a day on the hills.

Malvern Hills District Council’s portfolio holder for community safety Cllr Rebecca Masse welcomed the partnership.

"The levels and types of crime experienced in other areas of the country are often rare in Malvern Hills but as a proactive partnership, we cannot be complacent,” she said.

“Even though Malvern Hills is a safe place to live, work and visit with low crime levels regularly reducing year on year, we are keen to raise awareness of this issue to ensure our residents and their property remain safe."

Any car crime or suspicious activity can be reported to police on 101, or 999 in an emergency.

Information can also be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.