WILMSLOW'S police officers have told the Guardian they are clamping down on fuel thefts in the area and will seize vehicles if they catch criminals in the act.

Officers from the town's police station have been displaying red Toyota Yaris outside the petrol station at Tesco in Handforth for the past week, which was confiscated from the owner under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 earlier this year.

Cheshire Police said the purpose of this vehicle being displayed was to draw attention to the fact that vehicles can be seized or confiscated in a variety of situations one being when it is used to commit a crime such as stealing fuel.

Sgt Andy Miller, from Wilmslow NPU, said: "Stealing fuel is a crime that has been escalating in Wilmslow over recent months despite several arrests being made and convictions at court.

"Wilmslow Police are working will all the forecourts in the area in a bid to stamp out this crime and bring the offenders to justice. Any vehicles used for this type of crime will be seized as a result."

Sgt Miller added that the vehicle was a reminder that crime does not always pay and the police have powers to seize any property they suspect that has been bought using the proceeds of crime or money 'tainted' by criminality.

"This is a crime that often involves more than one offence as the perpetrator often steals someone’s number plates first and then transfers these to their own vehicle to disguise their vehicles identity," he said.

"Often these plates are used several times on different vehicles showing that more than one person is involved.

"We would ask that if anyone has their registration plates stolen that they report this matter to the police immediately so that we can act quickly. We would also advise those people that commit this crime that they risk losing more than just their liberty if they are caught.

"Improved CCTV at some service stations and staff training is resulting in more and more convictions every year and this is a matter that is top of our agenda at the moment with numerous overt and covert operations taking place on a regular basis.

"If you commit this crime then sooner or later you will be caught.”