Norwich retail crime crackdown thwarts thieves
Norwich is not a soft touch for thieves - that is the message police chiefs have issued after a successful crackdown on retail crime in the city after a fall in shoplifting.
Figures show that increased police patrols and closer working between police and shop workers, has helped thwart thieves operating in the Heartsease and Thorpe Hamlet neighbourhood.
Between December and March offences fell to 36 - 10 fewer crimes than the previous four-month period.
In the months of November and December, 19 crimes were recorded compared to 29 for the same months the previous year.
The issue was adopted as a priority by the Heartsease and Thorpe Hamlet Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) in November.
SNT Sgt Julie Johnson said: 'Shoplifting costs businesses millions of pounds in lost revenue every year - a cost that gets ultimately passed on to the public.
'Norwich is not a soft touch for thieves and we hope this period of intense activity has helped raise the profile of additional crime prevention measures that can be taken.'
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Working with local retailers, the SNT carriedout a number of actions. These included:
High visibility and undercover police patrols in hot spot areas.
A series of impact days - high visibility police work targeting Anglia Square.
Promotion of existing Shop Watch schemes to improve communication between shops and police, warning of known shoplifters in the area.
Pro-active policing at stores frequented by thieves.
High-profile Christmas crime prevention campaign.
For further information being carried out by the team to address local crime and anti-social behaviour concerns visit www.norfolk.police.uk
To contact the team call 0845 456 4567.
Have you got a story for the Evening News? Call reporter Peter Walsh on 01603 772436 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk
