Video: Online campaign tackles rising rate of railway thefts

A CAMPAIGN to help train users keep their property safe from pickpockets and ‘gadget grabbers’ has been launched by police amid fears that rates of theft are on the rise.
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British Transport Police has issued video clips to help the travelling public spot 13 of the most common tricks thieves use as part of its Operation Magnum campaign.

Officers are working with train operating companies to disrupt and deter thieves who target unsuspecting commuters and tourists at busy stations or snatch smartphones costing hundreds of pounds from distracted passengers’ hands.

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It comes after figures released this week reveal that theft at stations and on trains across the country rose by 16% last year, while in the North East region, which includes Yorkshire, the rate rose by seven per cent.

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There were 1,056 thefts of personal property in 2012/13 compared to 989 the previous year in the region, while luggage thefts climbed from 219 to 283 in the same period.

Among the offences currently being investigated by British Transport Police is the theft of a Samsung Galaxy S4 mobile phone worth £550 from a branch of TM Lewin at Leeds railway station on August 1.

Officers are also appealing for information after a spate of thefts around the station in July which saw a mobile phone, a suitcase and a handbag taken.

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Videos featured on BTP’s website and YouTube channel show passengers the 13 of the most common tricks thieves use, while anti-theft surgeries, which are being held at stations across Yorkshire, will see passengers handed crime prevention leaflets with advice on how to protect themselves from thieves.

Officers and civilian staff will be on hand to help people register their electrical gadgets to immobilise.com, a website that helps police reunite people with their lost or stolen items.

Although the operation, which is launched publicly today, is in its early stages, officers say it is starting to have an impact.

The total number of thefts across England, Scotland and Wales dropped by 9.5 per cent between June and August this year compared to the same period last year.

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Chief Superintendent Terry Nicholson from BTP said: “Thefts on the rail network are very rarely opportunistic; they are committed by determined thieves whose sole intention is to steal from other passengers.

“While crime on the rail network is down for the ninth successive year, theft of passenger property has been a real challenge for us this year, particularly with the rise in thefts of smartphones and other high-tech devices.

“The increase includes organised pick-pocketing and snatch and luggage thefts, which is why we’re running Operation Magnum across the country.

“The overall 9.5% reduction in thefts compared to this time last year is positive, but we know there is still much more to do.

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“We’ll use a range of tactics to create a really difficult environment for criminals to operate within, including intelligence-led patrols by uniformed officers and plain-clothes theft squad detectives.

“Thieves operating on the rail network should know that they will be caught and dealt with, no matter where they are operating across Britain.”