Police in new crackdown on street robbery
WEST Mercia Police are taking part in a national scheme to tackle personal robbery across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.
Operation Calibre is a week dedicated to taking action and sharing crime prevention advice to help people keep their belongings safe.
Anyone can become a target of robbery and perpetrators often target the vulnerable, including children. The threats and extreme violence can be incredibly traumatic to victims. The force aims to disrupt the behaviour, target habitual street robbers and take them off the street, along with education, engagement and prevention.
Det Ch Insp Ross Jones said: "Thankfully, rates of personal robbery are low in our area and are continuing to decrease. "This isn't something we take for granted though and officers work day and night year-round to tackle this highly traumatic crime. "This week of intensification gives us the opportunity to target habitual offenders who are intent on committing crime."
He added tackling robbery needed a 'multi-faceted response' and officers would be engaging with schools, charities and retailers. And he warned those who thought it okay to commit robbery and inflict violence in communities that the behaviour would not be tolerated and they would face consequences. Among advice to stop people becoming robbery victims are for people to look confident, move with purpose and be aware of their surroundings.
If going out, people should plan their routes, think about what they should take with them and keep to busy well-lit streets, walkways and paths which were more likely to be covered by CCTV. Only licensed taxis should be used and be booked via phone or mobile app and valuables, including mobile phones, should be kept out of sight. Never leave phones, wallets or other valuables on tables in cafes, pubs or restaurant, jewellery should be covered and those threatened with violence should not risk their personal safety - property can be replaced.
Visit westmercia.police.uk[1] for robbery prevention advice and anyone who has been a victim should report it by calling police on 101 or 999[2] if the robbery is taking place.
References
- ^ westmercia.police.uk (westmercia.police.uk)
- ^ 999 (999)