Operation Battenberg is a multi-agency initiative that will see extra resources being used to support the police's on-going work.

Between August 1 and November 13 there were 1,010 offences committed across the borough, mainly occurring overnight at weekends, with 626 (62%) of these being thefts from vehicles.

The operation today saw police community support officers carrying out high-profile patrols in hotspot areas to provide public reassurance and to distribute crime prevention literature and security-screw kits for number plates.

The PCSOs also visited public car parks to identify vehicles with valuables left on display.

Between 7am and 11am a service was being provided at Asda and Sainsbury's petrol forecourts in Leigh, where satellite-navigation devices and other valuables could be security-marked.

In another phase of the operation, officers were seizing any vehicles being driven without a licence or insurance and were working with a vehicle recovery agency to remove untaxed vehicles from the road.

By seizing these vehicles, officers say they are helping to make the roads safer, as uninsured drivers are more likely to have been convicted of driving unroadworthy vehicles and drink-driving.

Police were also conducting joint visits with Wigan Council to second-hand outlets and scrap-metal dealers to target those handling stolen goods.

Chief Insp Andy Baddeley of Wigan Division said: "Operation Battenberg is not only a day of enforcement, but also has an important reassurance and educational role.

"Reducing vehicle crime remains one of our priorities and we need people to realise that by removing valuables from their cars they can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a victim of crime."

To report crime, call police on 0161 872 5050 or report it online at www.gmp.police.uk. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.