Police are appealing for the community's help to crack down on car thieves and are offering crime prevention advice as part of the drive.

Operation Berlin will target known car thieves - some who are as young as 10 - over the coming weeks in a number of police initiatives.

Police say most car criminals are aged between 14 and 19 and in some cases there is a link to drug addiction.

Newport central Inspector Simon Jeffries warned youths caught up in car crime: "We've had Newport children killed in stolen vehicles in the past which we don't want to see and I'm sure the community don't want to see it either."

A teenager died several years ago when the car he was travelling in overturned on the coastal road between Newport and Cardiff.

"Stolen vehicles have overturned and lives have been lost - not only is it a criminal offence, it could end in tragedy and had done."

Insp Jeffries said many car criminals live day to day, looking for any opportunity possible to fund their drug habit.

He explained what Operation Berlin hopes to achieve: "We are looking to work in conjunction with the Argus and with the local community to make car crime unacceptable - vehicle crime is anti-social behaviour.

"Last year we had great success in Newport which saw offences of vehicles being stolen fall by 15% and detection rates at around 43% for car crime compared with 17-18% in other parts of the country.

"We are keen not to be complacent and we've still got quite high levels of vehicle crime per population - in the first month of this year we recorded 468 crimes - which is why we have launched Operation Berlin.

"Vehicle crime accounts for 28% of all crime across Newport so it is still a major category."

The police say they will be increasing patrols in hot-spot areas including parts of Maindee, Duffryn and Pill.

"If you are car criminal in Newport, we will be targeting you and looking to make life difficult for you," said Inspector Jeffries.

He appealed for the community to help in the fight against crime by coming forward with information and by making life tough for the criminals.

"We are asking the public to work with us and they really can help us by not leaving items like handbags and laptops on display.

"Some car thieves will break into your car for 20p or 30p of loose change. If you leave your laptop on the back seat of your vehicle it's just like leaving £1,000 in £20 notes on display."

Most cars are stolen between 11pm and 2am.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Gwent Police on 01633 838111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.