WINTER months are set to spark a surge in car crime, police chiefs are warning.

Latest figures for car break-ins on the Bolton north police sub-division has shown a sudden leap with nearly 50 vehicles targeted in just a week.

And today senior police officers confirmed that figure was nearly double the number of cars broken into on the previous week.

Chief Insp Dave Wolstenholme, based at Astley Bridge police station, warned townsfolk that the dark nights would help the car criminals.

He said: "Over the next few months you can expect to see an increase in figures because that seems to be the norm for crime to go up.

"Much of this is down to opportunist thieves so we would urge people to ensure their vehicles are locked and any property inside is not visible.

"Even if you are just stopping for a short time at someone else's house you should either take valuable property inside with you or lock it in the car's boot.

"If you drive an estate car you should make every effort to cover up any valuable property which is stored in the boot."

Heaton has been identified as a car crime hot spot with 13 break-ins in seven days. Other vehicles were targetted in Blackrod and Horwich.

And police chiefs are warning that the majority of car crime to the north of the town is in residential areas, as opposed to town centre break-ins.