CRIMINALS are being hit where it hurts - in the wallet - by a groundbreaking North Yorkshire Police team.

Investigators have seized cash and property worth £152,000 in the past six months alone.

They have frozen assets including cars and electronic goods worth up to £200,000 that belong to suspected villains.

The recently-formed police unit is using new legal powers to pounce on anything that may be from the proceeds of crime.

Up to 60 individuals in York and across the county have come under scrutiny by specialists who focus on financial paper trails and suspicious possessions.

Every person charged with an "acquisitive" offence, from drug dealers to organised burglars and white collar swindlers, can now expect to have their lifestyle put under the microscope.

Detective Sergeant Mark Grange said his unit did not only target the "Mr Bigs", but also aimed aim to stop low-level offenders.

"We want to catch them when they are actually doing the crime and stop them climbing the criminal ladder," he said.

"These powers enable us to stop them in their tracks before the can get other people to do the dirty work.

"Money brings status and we want to take away the flash car a drug dealer is driving and show them they are not untouchable."

The new powers to seize assets have been created under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Earlier this year, North Yorkshire Police employed five civilian investigators to work in the economic crime unit.

Many of the recruits have banking backgrounds and financial expertise that helps them analyse bank statements and business balance sheets.

The team works closely with Inland Revenue, the Department of Work and Pensions and banks, both in the UK and overseas.

Det Sergeant Grange said: "No one wants to live in a street where they work hard to look after their family while someone else does nothing and enjoys an expensive lifestyle."

Updated: 10:12 Thursday, October 07, 2004