A campaign to crack down on Christmas crime is under way.

On patrol - PC Richard Ferrier and Sgt Steve Kilcoyne. Picture ROBIN WOOSEY 4WJWN26

Southend police are handing out audio tapes to be played in Southend stores offering crucial crime prevention advice to shoppers. Posters will warn of opportunist thieves targeting purses and presents.

Uniformed officers will be on high visibility patrols in the town while plain clothes officers will also be taking to the streets.

Sgt Steve Kilcoyne, of Southend police's town beat section, said: "It is a proactive campaign targeting purse thefts and thefts from vehicles.

"We want people to enjoy Christmas, but we also want to make them aware of what is going on around them."

There will also be a vehicle crime reduction roadshow on Tuesday, at Victoria Circus, to advise motorists not to leave items on show in their vehicles and to use adequate security.

Published Friday November 30, 2001