CRIMES of fraud, housebreaking, and vehicle theft are declining across Inverclyde - but police in the area say more can still be done to drive down the figures further.

Sergeant David Cameron and Constable Andy Whiteford met shoppers at the Oak Mall on Tuesday to raise awareness of Police Scotland's After Dark campaign. 

The campaign is aimed at making older and more vulnerable people more aware of the importance of home and vehicle security, and doorstep crime, which includes scams and fraud, as the dark nights arrive again. 

A recent report published to coincide with a meeting of Inverclyde Council's police and fire scrutiny panel revealed that some crimes of dishonesty are falling locally. 

Between April 1 and June 30 this year, recorded fraud has reduced by more than one third, and the number of housebreaking crimes has dipped almost 15 per cent. 

Thefts and attempted thefts of motor vehicles have fallen by 14 per cent. 

Sergeant Cameron said it's good to see the numbers falling but admitted there was more work to be done. 

He added: "Figures are going down but we need to get them down even further. 

"We need to raise awareness to help older people keep themselves safe and not become victims of crime. 

"It's vital that we get the messages out there to more vulnerable people who are not fully equipped to deal with scams." 

The recent police and fire scrutiny panel report revealed that crimes of fraud continue to be the most commonly reported cyber-enabled crime. 

Sergeant David Cameron and Constable Andy Whiteford. (Image: George Munro) Sergeant Cameron and PC Whiteford spoke to shoppers about financial scams, which can be carried out via phone, online, or in-person by bogus workmen. 

David added: "People sometimes don't even register that it's a scam. 

"These scams are very sophisticated now and use new technologies.

"The scammers are very articulate and have a good vocabulary and can easily distract and persuade people."

Shoppers visiting the Police Scotland stand learned about protecting their homes by making sure their doors are properly locked, and installing CCTV is possible. 

The officers also spoke about making sure Ring doorbells capture as much area as possible on their cameras, and fitting motion sensors with lights. 

They advised people to think about where they park their cars, and to remove anything that's left out on the seats that will be attractive to criminals. 

Sergeant Cameron said he PC Whiteford were happy with the number of people who visited the stand on the day, and said they would be patrolling the streets and dropping off leaflets across Inverclyde.  

He added: "I think we've probably seen about 30 or 40 people. 

"We've had a good chat with people about what they can do to stay safe. 

"Everyone has been really positive and happy to see us."