THE Bolton Evening News is the driving force behind a pioneering scheme designed to help combat Bolton's young car thieves.

The BEN is sponsoring a relaunch of the "25 Scheme" - a bid to help police fight the rising tide of car Crime.

Today figures show the extent of the misery and heartbreak car crooks are causing throughout the town.

Although the yearly figures have not been officially released, the BEN can reveal that throughout last year in the Bolton Metropolitan Borough, 7,636 motorists reported their cars stolen, or broken into.

In total 3,267 cars were stolen and 4,369 had property stolen from them.

The auto crime figure accounts for a third of all crimes reported in the area. It is one of the highest in Greater Manchester - which itself records more crimes than any area of Britain outside London.

Only last week the publication of the Bolton Crime and Disorder Audit Report revealed that at least four in every 100 car drivers in the borough can expect to have their vehicles stolen, or have property taken from them.

The 25 Scheme - introduced nationally four years ago - has been relaunched today by Bolton Crime Prevention Panel in conjunction with Bolton Police.

The scheme works on the principle that 80 per cent of car crime is committed by thieves under the age of 25, while 70 per cent of victims are over that age.

All members of the scheme are issued with bright yellow triangular stickers to display on their windscreen and rear window. The "25" stickers are difficult to remove and indicate that the vehicle should normally only be driven by a person aged over 25.

Police officers will challenge any driver in the car who they suspect is under 25.

Proceeds from the sale of the stickers - which cost £1 for two - will be used by the crime prevention panel to fund local crime prevention initiatives.

The panel chairman, Mrs Joan Johnson, today urged Bolton's car owners to join the scheme. The level of car crime does not seem to decreasing as we would like it to," she said.

"It causes misery to more people in Bolton than anything else. Car owners have a duty to protect their cars and help the police to combat the problem.

"The 25 Scheme is easy and inexpensive to join. It is obviously for car owners but also provides a visible deterrent to any potential thief."

The Bolton Crime Prevention Panel is encouraging local businesses and organisations to support the fight against crime.

Mrs Johnson said: "The crime prevention panel appreciates the support and sponsorship of the Evening News in relaunching the scheme. It is the first time the panel has received sponsorship in this way.

"We hope other businesses will now follow the paper's example."

She added: "Crime affects us all. It is in Bolton's best interest that we adopt a partnership approach with the police and do what can to help."

The Bolton Crime Prevention Panel - which includes local residents, business people, representatives from local organisations, the police and local authority - was formed 30 years ago.

It was the first panel established in the North-west and is now a registered charity. ANYONE wishing to join the 25 Scheme is asked to contact their local police station or call into the Bolton Evening News offices in Churchgate. Cheques or postal orders for £1 should be made payable to the Bolton Crime Prevention Panel and sent to the panel c/o PO Box 232, Bolton, BL1 5FX.

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