Police are preparing to spring a trap on car criminals in Crawley using specially rigged vehicles.

The campaign follows a sudden rise in thefts from cars in the last few weeks, from 16 to 27 a week.

The 'rat traps' look like normal cars but are fitted inside with devices which alert police.

Crime areas have been identified in the town centre and Broadfield.

Operation Hyena was set up last year to cut car crime.

Every vehicle broken into will be examined by a police forensic vehicle examiner for traces of DNA, and closed-circuit TV will be used to cover problem areas.