EYECATCHING posters warning thieves they are being watched are being put up in villages as part of a police campaign.

The striking posters were unveiled in Lanchester on Friday (January 9) in a warning to thieves who target countryside properties.

They will be displayed in key locations around Lanchester and surrounding villages in a bid to deter potential thieves.

The poster campaign was launched after local people raised concerns about recent incidents of rural crime, such as the overnight theft of five Bleu de Maine sheep from the Esh area which was discovered on Friday

PC Scott Crowhurst, from the neighbourhood policing team, said: “We have a great community who are keen to protect their space and we need their help to do this. They are our eyes and ears on the ground.

“Our message to those people is very clear; we have a team of people who are on the look-out for anything or anyone suspicious.

“Thieves attempting to steal from properties here will be spotted, the police will be alerted and they will be caught.”

The Consett neighbourhood policing team have been working closely with local people to ensure their properties are fully secured; providing advice about how to safely store valuable possessions and installing shed alarms.

The team asks that locals contact them for further information by calling 101.