Officers fed up with a spate of car break-ins swapped shifts to catch the thieves.

Motor vehicle crime in Forestdale was hitting two a night, with car windows being smashed to steal valuables such as sat-navs and purses.

Officers from the Heathfield Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT), who usually work the day shift, went on night duty for three nights to trap the car thieves.

More than 20 people were stopped during the operation and 10 people were searched.

Of those 10, a youth was arrested and car thefts ground to a halt.

Acting Inspector David Leishman said: “The reduction in car crime in Forestdale shows that despite normally working day time hours SNTs are ready to do what is necessary to tackle any type of crime.

“They saw that these thefts from vehicles were taking place at night and so swapped their shifts over to deal with them accordingly.

“Since the operation, thefts from cars in the area have stopped.”