POLICE are warning taxi drivers, business owners and residents to be vigilant after a spate of vehicle crimes.

GMP Bolton North posted via the My Astley Bridge Facebook page urging people to take precautions to protect their properties and vehicles.

Business owners are advised by police to maintain no cash is left on business premises over night, and ensure expensive items are removed from windows when premises are closed.

They also encourage people to ensure their CCTV cameras are clean and clear of any obstructions, and that alarms are checked on a regular basis.

Those involved in delivering goods are advised not to keep their engines running or their vehicles insecure while delivering items.

And taxi drivers should remove any signs from their vehicles while parked up at their home address, if possible.

The post said: "The reasons for these little prompts are that especially over the Christmas period we tend to see a trend for targeted crime in business locations due to increased volumes of cash transactions and deliveries. Let’s together make the New Year secure."

The warning follows a special report by The Bolton News published this week which found that an average of ten car crimes are reported in Bolton every day according to police figures.