Shoplifting spike spoils encouraging crime figures
Monday, 23rd July 2012.
A spate of shoplifting has struck various retailers in Haverhill over the past week, although police have also caught some of the offenders.
There were nine shoplifting incidents in the town last week compared with a weekly average of two.
Four occurred in one day, in different shops, selling different goods and with different items being targeted.
All four were committed by different offenders, all four of whom were caught by police.
Haverhill's police chief, Insp Peter Ferrie, said it was a most unusual occurrence to have four in one day, but there was no connection between them at all, as far as poloice can make out.
"Of course, I'm delighted we caught all four of them," he said, "but it's very strange, because our yearly figures for shoplifting are down.
"We'll have to see what happens next week to find out if we've nipped it in the bud or not."
Generally, crime figurtesare down again in the town, apart from vehicle crime which is up 16 per cent over the period from April 1.
In total, crime over the period has fallen from an average 660 incidents for the period to the actual 587.
Most markedly down is anti-social behaviour with 399 incidents reported, compared with an average of 608
Domestic burglaries and burglaries of sheds and garages are also down significantly.
Insp Ferrie said it was overall a very good situation. "It reflects the good work of officers here," he said.
"Also, I've noticed a difference that members of the public will call us when they see something, which they used not to do so much.
"It shows the community spirit in the town. We used not even to be told about crimes but now people tell us and they tell us who has done things. The more they tell us the more we catch."
There were nine shoplifting incidents in the town last week compared with a weekly average of two.
Four occurred in one day, in different shops, selling different goods and with different items being targeted.
All four were committed by different offenders, all four of whom were caught by police.
Haverhill's police chief, Insp Peter Ferrie, said it was a most unusual occurrence to have four in one day, but there was no connection between them at all, as far as poloice can make out.
"Of course, I'm delighted we caught all four of them," he said, "but it's very strange, because our yearly figures for shoplifting are down.
"We'll have to see what happens next week to find out if we've nipped it in the bud or not."
Generally, crime figurtesare down again in the town, apart from vehicle crime which is up 16 per cent over the period from April 1.
In total, crime over the period has fallen from an average 660 incidents for the period to the actual 587.
Most markedly down is anti-social behaviour with 399 incidents reported, compared with an average of 608
Domestic burglaries and burglaries of sheds and garages are also down significantly.
Insp Ferrie said it was overall a very good situation. "It reflects the good work of officers here," he said.
"Also, I've noticed a difference that members of the public will call us when they see something, which they used not to do so much.
"It shows the community spirit in the town. We used not even to be told about crimes but now people tell us and they tell us who has done things. The more they tell us the more we catch."
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