Up to 100 vehicles have been seized during a major offensive against car crime near Belfast, it emerged today.
Officers impounded the unlicensed vehicles as part of an operation targeting areas plagued by joyriders and thieves.
In the first phase 40 so-called "runabouts" were taken from Twinbrook, Poleglass and Seymour Hill in Lisburn. But police expect the total will at least double by the time all cars have been impounded.
Superintendent Gerry Murray said the operation, which was influenced by a scheme run in Belfast a year ago, was designed to curb the carnage on the roads.
"This analysis showed that crime within the target areas - which included arson, theft of petrol, domestic burglaries and thefts from, and of, cars - was significantly reduced," he said.
"Users of such runabout vehicles show a disregard for the law in terms of unlicensed and very often uninsured use, and statistics show that these vehicles appear to be involved in a disproportionate number of road traffic collisions.
"Our aim is to make Northern Ireland safer and we are confident that the removal of these vehicles from the streets in this area will make a significant contribution to this aim."