A Christmas robbery clampdown has been hailed a success after street thefts fell by half in Dagenham.
Police cracked down on robbers in Barking Town Centre and around Dagenham Heathway Tube part of a high-visibility operation around shopping precincts during the festive season.
Met police figures released yesterday show that shoplifting and robberies had dropped by 50 per cent in the Heathway and by 25 per cent in Barking Town Centre compared to 2011.
Sgt Richard Morgan said: “I am very pleased with the final results. The two-week period on the approach to Christmas can be a stressful time for retailers who lose stock to shoplifters and for shoppers who could find themselves the victim of pickpockets or robbers.
“Much anti-social behaviour around town centres is alcohol related and the highly visible patrols did deter street drinkers and rowdy behaviour.”
The statistics also showed that assaults had fallen from 19 to 12 in Barking Town Centre and from two to zero in the Heathway during the clampdown called Operation Presence.
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