THIEVES have been warned to stay out of Blackburn during the run up to Christmas following the launch of the town's biggest festive crime prevention scheme

The move came after two suspected thieves were arrested within two hours of the official launch of Operation Mistletoe yesterday. They were later charged and bailed.

Part of the anti-theft initiative has been running successfully since the beginning of last month but the organisers hope for even better results now the full range of measures is operating.

Police, Blackburn Council and town centre staff hope it will be the most effective anti-theft drive the town has seen.

Crooks who traditionally target town centre shops during the busy Christmas period will face a crime prevention barrage.

It includes:

Ten uniformed officers patrolling the shopping precinct and nearby shops.

Police motorcyclists monitoring car parks and the edges of the town centre looking for car crooks.

Officers and horses from the force's mounted branch along with members of the Special Constabulary carrying out high-visibility policing.

Plain-clothed officers from Lancashire police's operational support unit moving into town to try to catch thieves in the act.

Use of the town's closed circuit television cameras and the radio link scheme to track suspected crooks and monitor stores.

Police will also apply to the courts for people arrested in the town centre to be barred from returning until their cases have been heard.

Last year's Christmas crime crackdown, Operation Yuletide, resulted in 82 arrests and £3,000 worth of property being recovered.

But Sergeant Alan Holt, of Blackburn Police's crime prevention team, said: "We are confident this will be the most effective Christmas operation."

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