Police will be out in force the streets of Melbourne’s northern suburbs in an attempt to curb rising crime rates.

In a new operation starting Thursday and Friday will have uniformed police will be patrolling crime hotspots including shopping centres, shopping strips and railway stations in the Darebin and Whittlesea area.

The City of Darebin has seen a 38 per cent rise in motor vehicle theft and a 23 per cent increase in residential burglaries.

The City of Whittlesea has seen a 21 per cent increase in car theft and a 41 per cent increase in motor vehicle theft.

Superintendent Sharon Cowden said although the crimes were mostly opportunistic, the rise in crime is a concern.

“We’ve recently seen a rise in these crime categories which is a concern. However, many of these crimes are opportunistic and can possibly be prevented by taking simple steps,” Superintendent Cowden said.

“It can take just seconds for a thief to open the door and take items you have visible in your car. Always lock up and take any valuables with you. Lock the windows and doors to your house and remember to report any suspicious behaviour and activity to police.”

The operation will utilise the help of the Operations Response Unit (ORU), the Mounted Branch, Transit police, Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) and Highway Patrol.

Police will also be engaging with the community to spread the crime prevention message, including providing advice, safety tips and answering questions from residents.

For more information about protecting yourself against becoming a victim of crime, download a crime prevention fact sheets at www.police.vic.gov.au.