HAVING your car stolen or damaged by criminals is deeply upsetting. As is the case with all sorts of crime, innocent people feel they are being picked on for no good reason.

So it is encouraging to be able to report that a North Yorkshire police officer was so moved by the distress of a victim of car crime that he determined to do something - and in his own time too.

Incidents of theft from motor vehicles in the eastern part of North Yorkshire had been rising, to the alarm of residents and the police. In one week in October, thousand of pounds worth of goods were stolen from parked vehicles.

PC Ray Thwaites, based at Helmsley, joined two colleagues, PC Steve Leach and PC Martin Recchia, in an attempt to catch criminals thought to be crossing the border from Middlesbrough to commit car crimes.

The enterprising officers spent a week in June waiting for suspects to strike. They used video cameras in their surveillance work and eventually captured evidence of suspected criminals at work.

Uniformed officers were on standby and swooped to make an arrest.

The incidence of car crime fell sharply after the operation.

Once again, this case suggests that it can take only a few people to cause an awful lot of crime and upset.

At a time when the police are often criticised for not turning out promptly enough, here is a shining example of proactive policing. Three officers took the initiative and their far-sightedness paid off.

Chief Constable Della Cannings, who is once again negotiating for a rise in police funds, must be chuffed to bits with her officers.

Such dedication is just what we need.

Updated: 10:22 Friday, December 05, 2003