POLICE chiefs are urging car park bosses to tighten security in the fight against the town's motor crooks.

A series of Home Office conferences has been organised across the country -- with one taking place in Manchester -- in an attempt to reduce motor break-ins.

The events will highlight crime-fighting initiatives that have been adopted by car park owners to reduce car break-ins and improve safety.

Two Bolton car parks, Bow Street multi-storey and Crompton Place, have been singled out for praise, after being awarded the Association of Chief Police Officers Secured Car Park Status.

Nationally there are just 733 car parks which have gained the Secure Status, which was introduced in 1992 to encourage a reduction in car crime.

Supt Don Brown, of Bolton Police, said: "We remain determined in our resolve to combat car crime. We rely on the help from the public in several ways and of of these is to park on secure car parks and not to leave valuables in their cars.

"I'm aware that both the Bolton car parks which have the special award are committed take security seriously and that people use these venues because of that."

Now other car park bosses in the town will be encouraged to raise standards to gain Secured Car Park status.

The conference, which was held in Manchester on Saturday, came just days after the BEN revealed that 5,727 cars had been broken into in the town in the past nine months.

Of those, 2,202 were stolen and property was taken from the remaining 3,525.

To achieve the status, car parks need to have a good design layout, effective use of CCTV and high quality lighting as well as introducing 'help points' and introducing controlled pedestrian and vehicle entry and exit points.

Bury's Millgate Shopping Centre car park has also gained Secure Car Park status.