A month-long focus by Avon and Somerset Police on preventing common seasonal crimes across local rural communities has begun.
An increase in theft of livestock, heating oil, food items and burglaries, not only of residential property but also farm shops and seasonal businesses, is often experienced in the run-up to Christmas.
Across the Avon and Somerset rural beats, local officers and PCSOs will be visiting farms, businesses and stables to offer property marking, making sure there is a reasonable level of security.
They and the Rural Crime Team will also be visiting local markets, fairs and Christmas events with support from Special Constables and the force’s local cadets.
Insp Andrew Pritchard of the Rural Crime Team said: “The weeks leading towards Christmas are a time when everyone should be particularly wary of the burglary risk posed by an abundance of high-value food and drink and livestock associated with our local businesses, as well as rural domestic burglaries.
“Almost every day this month we will be present at local events giving crime prevention advice and encouraging greater membership of our Farmwatch and Horsewatch programmes, and visiting our rural businesses and communities to make sure the risk of them becoming victims of crime is lowered.
“Christmas is a particularly harrowing time to be a victim of crime and so our focus will be on the ways in which Avon and Somerset Police can help prevent burglary and theft, particularly with effective property marking and membership of our rural watch schemes.”
Operation Hamper forms part of the Have the Christmas You Deserve campaign, which will be running throughout December.
This campaign incorporates a number of activities to tackle issues related to the festive period, such as keeping your Christmas gifts safe and helping people to stay safe over the party season.
