ABOUT 2,000 rucksacks are being given away to tourists in the New Forest in a major campaign to combat car crime.

Police and the Forestry Commission hope the free bags will prompt motorists to take their valuables with them when they park at beauty spots.

Every summer thieves target a large number of cars owned by visitors to the Forest.

They make off with a wide range of expensive items that have been left in the vehicles, often in full view of passers-by.

Some motorists attempt to fool the thieves by placing their property under the front seat or in the boot.

However, criminals often keep car parks under surveillance - and retrieve the property from its hiding place as soon as the coast is clear.

Now funds released by the New Forest Community Safety Partnership have paid for hundreds of rucksacks that will enable motorists to remove valuables from their vehicle when leaving it unattended.

The bags will be handed out to drivers using Forestry Commission car parks across the New Forest National Park.

Opportunist Crime prevention officer Ron Smith said: "Every day in car parks and residential areas across Hampshire, vehicles with valuable items on display are broken into by opportunist thieves.

"The only certain way of protecting your property is to carry it with you.

"Enjoy the New Forest and have fun but remove all items from your car, lock it and set the alarm before leaving it unattended."

As well as supplying rucksacks, police are planning to carry out high-visibility patrols in the area and offer crime prevention tips to tourists.

A police spokesman confirmed that officers would continue to deploy "trap cars" in places where thieves often strike.

These look like any other cars but are monitored by surveillance equipment that is automatically activated if the vehicle is broken into.