Car crime accounts for 30% of all crime in the area

Last year there were more than 1,400 vehicle-related crimes in the Camborne, Pool and Redruth areas.

Now police have recruited 21-year-old Shaun , from Camborne, to talk to vehicle owners on Tuesday about the things he used to look for when he was considering which cars to break into.

Shaun has been in trouble with the police since he was 14 but turned his life around with the help of the Real Base project in Camborne.

'Focus attention'

The scheme trains young people in mechanics, IT, art and the media.

It was his involvement with the project which convinced him to assist officers in helping to stop other young people from getting into the same trouble.

Mike Treglown, sector Inspector for Kerrier, said: "Vehicle crime continues to be an issue for the communities in my police sector.

"The main problem relates to thefts from unattended vehicles - if items have been left on display, thieves are more likely to target them.

"The police can only do so much to combat this and the main reason behind this initiative is to try and focus the attention of vehicle owners to help reduce this type of crime in their communities."