Police Increase Patrols to Combat Shoplifting

To counter shoplifting, law enforcement personnel conducted additional patrols on Black Friday. Officers from Cambridgeshire Police, alongside special constables, undertook highly visible patrols throughout Cambridge and Peterborough, specifically targeting individuals involved in shoplifting. These patrols covered key areas including Market Square, Grand Arcade, Grafton Centre, Fitzroy Street, and Trinity Street in Cambridge, as well as Queensgate, Rivergate, Westgate, Cowgate, and Bridge Street in Peterborough. On Friday, a 49-year-old woman from Cambridge was apprehended and has subsequently been charged with three counts of shoplifting. In the previous year, between November 1 and December 31, a total of 704 shoplifting incidents were reported across Cambridge and Peterborough. This figure represents a 23% rise compared to the number of incidents recorded in 2022. Sgt Kevin Misik, a member of the Cambridge City Neighbourhood team, stated: “We hope that our presence across Cambridgeshire deterred thieves and that we were able to help shoppers enjoy Black Friday by keeping them safe from anyone trying their luck.” He added, “We will continue to work with our partners tackling retail crime over the Christmas period to ensure that we can prevent as many thefts as possible.” For updates on Peterborough news, information is available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Details regarding our approach to external linking are also available.