Criminals who travel the region to commit car crime and burglaries are being targeted in a cross-border initiative spearheaded by Warwickshire Police.

Stratford police, who are co-ordinating Operation Trident, will work with colleagues from West Mercia and West Midlands.

They will focus on road networks around Studley, Alcester, Henley-in-Arden and Tamworth-in-Arden to trap criminals who travel into the county to steal vehicles and burgle properties.

Mobile and uniformed foot patrols will carry spot checks using high-tech Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras to see whether cars have been stolen.

Officers will also look out for drivers who endanger lives by speeding, driving recklessly or are in unroadworthy vehicles.

Chief Inspector Nick Croft of Stratford Police said:

"We have information which suggests that there are teams of criminal travelling into the county specifically to steal cars, steal from cars and commit burglaries.

"Travelling criminals make use of the well developed road network to move quickly around the region. We intend to stop them in their tracks."