Police say criminals ignoring the warnings will end up in court

Covert capture cars fitted with satellite tracking and video technology are left in crime hotspots.

If a car is tampered with, the video equipment is activated and a message sent to nearby officers.

Devon and Cornwall Police said vehicle crime and theft from cars had fallen in both counties since the capture cars were introduced.

The drop in vehicle crime is remarkable. Our aim is to prevent crime in the first place and this appears to be working. Pc Tim Brooks

Figures released show overall vehicle crime in Cornwall has been reduced by 14%, with theft down by 12.8%.

In Devon, the statistics for Torbay show a fall of 8.5% in overall car crime and a 18.6% reduction if theft from vehicles.

When the covert cars were introduced in the region about nine months ago, motorists were given stickers saying "Is this a covert capture car?" in a bid to steer thieves away.

Pc Tim Brooks said: "We have given the car thief every opportunity to kick their habit by putting out the deterrent notices.

"The drop in vehicle crime is remarkable. Our aim is to prevent crime in the first place and this appears to be working."

The police said those who have ignored the warnings and broken into the covert cars have ended up in court.

The covert equipment is funded jointly by the local Community Safety Partnership groups and Devon and Cornwall Police.