Shoplifting and anti-social behaviour targeted as police patrol Lichfield city centre
Officers have spent time on the streets of Lichfield city centre targeting shoplifters and those causing anti-social behavioural issues.
They spent several hours in the city centre last Thursday, speaking to shoppers and business owners and investigating any suspicious activity they encountered.
Lichfield City and Trent Valley railway stations were also included in the operation as both uniformed and plain-clothed officers conducted patrols.
During the operation, a suspicious vehicle was spotted on the car park opposite Sports Direct on the A5127 Birmingham Road. Officers spoke to the occupants before moving it along.
A man suspected of being involved in drug supply, shoplifting or anti-social behaviour offences within Lichfield was spotted coming out of City train station and was escorted back to a platform to catch the next train.
Elsewhere, two shoplifters were detained in the B&M store on Market Street for taking energy drinks and chewing gum. Both were 14-year-old girls from the Lichfield area. The store did not wish to pursue a complaint so banning orders preventing them from entering the store were issued.
PCSO Alyx Hart, who was behind the operation, said: “I think the presence of the police officers deterred a lot of people from potentially offending. But there was a lot of positive feedback from members of the public about seeing us in the city and I think a lot of people felt very reassured.
“We will continue as a force to pro-actively clamp down on all anti-social offences and otherwise in the Lichfield area and keep those who live, work and own businesses here safe and secure.”
Anyone who is a victim of or is suspicious of any anti-social behaviour offences should contact Staffordshire Police on 101 to report it. In an emergency always dial 999.
