JAMES Bond-style devices are being used by police in Haringey to catch car thieves.o

Officers are using global positioning satellite technology to track down thieves in a new initiative codenamed Operation Thiefcatcher.

The equipment has been fitted to a number of decoy cars which are parked in crime hotspots.

Once a car thief gets into the vehicle the tracking system will be activated and officers are guided to the exact location of the vehicle.

Central locking devices are also fitted to ensure the thieves cannot get out of the car once the car has been located and brought to a halt.

The operation aims to crack down on the theft of older-style cars which are more commonly stolen in Haringey.

Sgt Stuart Gill of the motor vehicle crime reduction team said: "In Haringey 60 per cent of stolen cars are registered prior to 1996. The thieves are tending to go for older cars because they know that they will not be fitted with elaborate security devices like most modern cars.

"These thieves are causing a lot of misery to the families in this borough who cannot afford to protect their vehicles with expensive security alarms.

"It is hoped that if thieves know some commonly stolen types of car will be fitted with global positioning systems it will act as a deterrent to them."

Sgt Gill said the scheme was already proving to be a success. Four arrests had been made since the operation started last week.