FIRST there was Knight Rider.

And now Hampshire Police has its own answer to KITT, the crime solving car.

‘Nick’, the crime prevention car, is a new weapon against vehicle crime, designed to make motorists aware of the risks of leaving valuables in their cars.

Expensive items like satnavs, tablet computers, cameras and handbags are commonly stolen from cars in rural car parks and shopping centres where they stay unattended for several hours.

Superintendent Steve Wallace said: “We see time after time people seem to have a blind spot when it comes to leaving their valuables in their cars.

“People think ‘it will never happen to me’ or ‘I’ll only be a minute’ and then they wonder why their windows have been smashed and their belongings have been stolen.

“We also find many cars aren’t even locked, so making it even easier for an opportunist thief to steal your possessions.

“It takes less than 60 seconds for a thief to smash a window and grab a handbag or phone for example. Don’t put yourself at risk.”

Nick will visit car parks across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to try to put the brakes on this type of crime.

And although Nick cannot talk like KITT, he does have the following advice for motorists – check your satnav is not on show, make sure valuables are not visible on the back seat and that your phone is not visible in a holder.

Anyone who sees any suspicious activity around cars should call police on 101 or 999 if a crime is happening.

For more details about car crime prevention, visit hampshire.police.uk/internet/advice-and-information/crime-prevention.