Police today called on Saltaire residents to crack down on crime after a dramatic rise in offences.

Detective Inspector Trevor Gasson, of Keighley CID, urged villagers to form neighbourhood watch schemes, share information about suspicious incidents and pass it on to police.

From January 2002 to January 2003 thefts from cars rose by almost 100 per cent compared to the previous year, from 63 to 124, while burglaries rose by 77 per cent, from 61 to 108.

Det Insp Gasson has helped oversee the formation of the new Saltaire Project Team Community Safety Sub-group.

The group was sparked by a spate of vandalism last year at the allotments next to Saltaire United Reformed Church.

The Telegraph & Argus reported how a stolen car was set alight after it smashed into the historic Victoria Road church which resulted in costly insurance bills for the building.

Det Insp Gasson also revealed residents could seek advice at the police box at Salts Mill which will be manned from today by British Transport Police, police officers, special constables and volunteers.

Det Insp Gasson said close communities like Saltaire could be a 'Godsend' when it came to gathering intelligence.

"Saltaire is a very tight-knit area and we should be using that to fight crime," he said.

"We also need to look at reducing people's fear of crime.

"We need people to tell us what's going on in the community so we know where to put our resources."

The group includes traders, businesses, Shipley College and residents.

Last week the group was behind an operation which saw officers patrolling the village and trying residents' door handles - when 45 homes were found to have their front doors unlocked - and more than 800 security advice leaflets and stickers were delivered.

"A lot of security is about changing people's habits and making them aware of what can make their home a target," said Det Insp Gasson.

A meeting will be held next month to look at improving security at the allotments.