THE run-up to Christmas has already brought the usual festive trimmings -- an increase in shoplifting, cash thefts and bank robberies.

But in aiming to hit hardened criminals this year, hopefully police are sending out a message that any crime at Christmas will not be tolerated.

Guards delivering cash to banks in the run up to Christmas will, on selected occasions, be given an armed police escort in a bid to prevent robberies.

Lancashire police has joined up with five other forces, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Cumbria and North Wales, ahead of the typical seasonal rise in cash-in-transit robberies.

As well as armed officers, force helicopters will also be used to escort deliveries.

In addition, the British Security Industry Association is funding a scheme called 'Hawk Eye', in which cash deliveries are filmed covertly from a special vehicle.

In recent years East Lancashire has often been the target of gangs, usually from outside the area, targeting deliveries to cash points and banks.

The financial pressures at Christmas are great and must create the temptation in many to resort to crime to make ends meet.

And if they see gangs seemingly getting away with it, that temptation will surely increase.