POLICE have opened up another front in the war on in-car satellite navigation thieves in Coventry.

They are handing out security packs which they hope motorists will use to foil the thieves who have been breaking into cars to steal the hi-tech systems.

Three thousand kits containing ultra-violet property marking pens, stickers and registration cards have been handed out to motorists in the city.

It comes after police started using sting operations to target thieves.

They set up honey-trap operations in response to a huge rise in sat nav thefts since Christmas.

Two youths were found guilty of theft after one such police operation in Foleshill Road on February 27.

PC Dick Neale, a crime reduction officer, at Coventry's Stoney Stanton Road police station, said: "Satellite navigation systems are expensive pieces of equipment that should never be left in an unattended vehicle.

"Since Christmas, when many systems were given as presents, we've seen a rise in the number of thefts."

He added: "Marking property - using visible security stickers and covert ultra violet ink - is a really important way of making equipment less desirable for offenders to steal and provide proof of legal ownership should it be stolen."

People can use the registration cards to record details of their sat nav system, car radio and mobile phone.