POLICE cracking down on retail crime in the run-up to Christmas have issued a warning to shoppers.

In the past fortnight, police have made more than 40 arrests, mostly of regular offenders, in Darlington's town centre streets and shops.

That figure is about three times the normal arrest rate in the area.

As Christmas draws near, officers are working with the town's Crime Net scheme, the town's closed-circuit security television system operators, British Transport Police and other bodies in an effort to reduce the level of high street crime.

Most common offences are shoplifting, credit card fraud, handbag and purse snatches, and thefts from shopping bags.

The operation, led by Acting Sergeant Dave Wray, is targeting repeat offenders, many of whom have already been caught.

But Acting Sgt Wray warned that uniformed officers were also targeting new offenders to complement the crime crackdown, which will continue until shops close on Christmas Eve.

"We are solely concentrating on persistent retail crime offenders. The other incidental offenders, juveniles and things like that, are being dealt with by uniformed personnel," he said.

Deterrents, including bail conditions barring offenders from the town centre, exclusion orders stopping them from entering shops, and intelligence-sharing between the partners, are all tools of the operation.

"We look to target the criminal early through, the use of intelligence measures, utilising CCTV systems within the town centre, and other eyes of the town centre, such as the Crime Net system itself, to pinpoint the offenders before they commit a crime," said Acting Sgt Wray.

He also urged shoppers to be on their guard.

Purses and wallets should not be left on show, where they are easy targets for thieves.

Shoppers who are approached by strangers seeking information should also be careful not to put their bags on the floor, because they, too, would be open to theft.

He also urged people who witness, or have information about such crimes, to act quickly, by informing either Darlington police station on (01325) 467681, a uniformed officer or security guard, to help reinforce the intelligence and crime prevention and detection measures.