A POLICE crackdown on shoplifting has been hailed a big success.

Operation Dowse, which began in Darlington in mid-October, has recovered stolen property worth more than £1,000 and netted 57 people.

It has involved high-visibility police patrols as well as patrols by officers in plain clothes. Police officers were also in direct contact with security staff.

According to Darlington police, the operation not only caught shoplifters, but had other positive side-effects.

Inspector Sue Collingwood, of Darlington Community Safety Partnership, said because officers were patrolling in plain clothes, they had been able to spot and arrest people who had warrants issued for their arrest - without being seen first.

Police also reprimanded youths for cycling dangerously on the pavement and the operation has netted people on drink and drugs offences.

Insp Collingwood said: "This operation has been a huge success, we are responding quickly and action is being taken.

"Shoplifting is becoming a much bigger crime than society generally thinks it is."

She said that in recent years Darlington had attracted organised teams of shoplifters who looted shops, but added: "This year, we don't feel we have had them here in Darlington. This has got to be because they know Darlington is not an easy target anymore."