A reformed car thief who broke in to some 40 or 50 cars a night has now joined the police in their fight against crime.

Shaun Jefferies has been helping officers in the Camborne and Redruth area understand how a car thief thinks.

The 21-year-old, who lives in Camborne, was just 11 when he began stealing motorcycles and, at 13, he was taken into foster care.

Shaun says he stopped after his nan saw him stealing a bike but he then began breaking in to and stealing cars. At 14, he started stealing anything he could from cars to get money for drink and drugs.

Shaun said: "On the dole you get £86 a fortnight, but if you've got a drug or drink habit you spend that in three days.

"You've got to go out and fund that. I used to go out at four in the morning and break in to 40 or 50 cars."

Shaun says it is all too easy: "Valuables on show, speakers on show, boats open, money in the cigarette tray."

He also warns people against thinking their cars are safe if they are parked in a drive or parked outside their house but says parking in lit-up areas at night is a big deterrent to thieves.

After getting caught, he made a real effort to change his ways but, while staying at Meneghy Bail Hostel, in Camborne, his nan died and Shaun fell back into a life of crime.

He then decided enough was enough and deliberately got himself arrested the day before his 21st birthday. Having left prison for the second time last May, Shaun has been making a real effort to change his ways.

Now, with his girlfriend Tegan, who is expecting their baby, Shaun is determined not only to turn his own life around but help others do the same.

He now works as a training supervisor with the Real Base Project, a scheme aimed at supporting youngsters and keeping them out of trouble. As well as teaching youngsters about mechanics, Shaun also talks to them about the mistakes he has made and does his best to steer them away from crime.

According to Inspector Mike Treglown, who is heading the latest initiative to tackle car crime, some 30 or 40 vehicles are broken into each week in the Camborne-Redruth area.

"The police can only do so much to combat this and the main aim of this initiative is to focus the attention of vehicle owners to help reduce this type of crime in their communities," said Insp Treglown.