FEBRUARY and March are traditionally the worst months for car crime in Brighton. No one knows why.

Last year the number of thefts of or from cars climbed to just under 600 during the two months but dropped to just over 300 in July and August.

It costs owners, police and insurance companies tens of thousands of pounds a year.

And it is a major headache for Insp Sharon Rowe, police commander of north Brighton.

She said: "It is happening day and night on the streets of this area, even in broad daylight when lots of people are around. Motorists will run from their car to pop into a shop and return to find something stolen. Owners have to be more security-minded."

Insp Rowe said drugs were behind most of the thefts - 85 to 90 per cent of people brought into Brighton cells have some kind of addiction.

Many thieves see cars as a quick and easy way of making cash for their next fix. They steal briefcases, cassette players and anything left on or under seats or in boots.

But there are also a handful of so-called professionals who steal to supply the black market with cars or parts. They operate in small garages, stripping, respraying and sometimes welding parts into a "new" car.

Metros have been a favourite for thieves recently and plain-clothes officers last week conducted a spot-check campaign to stop them. Five youths were arrested.

Insp Rowe said a small minority of villains, many of them juvenile and some as young as 14, committed the majority of crimes.

She appealed to motorists to step up their own security, report anything suspicious immediately and supply police with information.

She said: "People who live with thieves know what they are doing but probably have no idea of the harm and distress they are causing victims. We want to hear about them.

"Tell us of people who go out late at night, or who have lock-ups and garages where a lot of car repairs are going on. We want to know about people selling cheap car stereos in pubs or boot sales."

Insp Rowe said police and Brighton and Hove Council planned to work together this year, identifying roads where car crime is prolific to target the culprits and improve crime prevention.

Speed humps in some roads have led to a reduction in car crime because thieves can't speed away without risking an accident.

Meanwhile, she said, owners should leave nothing inside vehicles and get stereos and CD players security marked or record serial numbers.

Insp Rowe said: "Often when we have successfully recovered stolen items we have to return them to the thieves because the victims cannot prove they are theirs.

"It is heartbreaking for them - and us."

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