OUR Car Safe campaign is celebrating another victory as a car park operator pledges to increase security in Newport.

Johnsey Estates, which owns the Newport Retail Park car park at Spytty, today promised to take further steps to stamp out car crime.

Last month we reported how both Lee Woodbury and Char-lene Keohane had their cars broken into at the car park while they were watching a film at the UGC cinema.

Both contacted the Argus and called for added security at the car park. Now Johnsey Estates says it has requested its security firm, 1st on Site Security, to increase the watch over the car park.

Johnsey Estates director Lee Johnsey said: "We have responded immediately to comments made in the Argus campaign.

"We have arranged for further improvements on the site. We will now be having two security staff on Thursday instead of one as that appears to be a busy time."

From Thursday to Sunday two security staff will now be on duty until the early hours of the morning.

On other days one guard will cover the area.

Mr Johnsey said: "We have told 1st on Sight Security about the problem and they will be significantly increasing their own mobile patrols in the area.

"The patrols will be accompanied by a guard dog.

"There are other things we are going to implement that will help catch the thieves.

"We haven't brushed this under the carpet and we have responded immediately to the Car Safe campaign.

"We absolutely support the campaign."

He stressed tenants at the retail park like the UGC cinema and Megabowl were alre-ady happy with the level of security at the car park.

Mr Johnsey said: "Security inside buildings is up to the tenants themselves, but our security staff will assist in an emergency situation."

He said the security staff were also policing the usage of disabled spaces at the car park.

Within a year Johnsey Estates hopes to build a two-storey security building at the retail park.

Miss Keohane, 24, from Caerleon, told the Argus thieves had forced the front passenger door of her Fiat Punto and stole clothes from the boot when it was parked right outside the cinema.

She said: "Increasing security is an excellent idea.

"The security guards are doing the best they can and with the extra manpower I will feel safer going to the cinema now."

Mr Woodbury, of Newport, also aged 24, had £400 worth of damage caused to his Citroen Saxo VTS and car stereo taken while he watched a film at the cinema.

Eddie Garwood, the general manager of 1st on Site Security, said the firm had agreed to provide an extra officer and have frequent mobile patrols.

He said: "Other measures are being taken, which for security reasons we are not at liberty to divulge."