Police launch Christmas crime crackdown targeting Dewsbury station thieves

CAUGHT ON CAMERA This man took a suitcase from a train which stopped at Dewsbury.

British Transport Police are behind a number of special operations that will be running at stations and on trains across the rail network in Yorkshire.

Extra uniform and plain clothes officers will be out and about undertaking extra patrols to tackle the theft of passenger property.

Officers are also asking for the assistance of the public to identify a number of people caught on camera stealing passengers’ property and have issued a gallery of their most wanted.

CCTV from Dewsbury train station shows a man taking a suitcase and leaving the train before heading towards Eightlands Road. The train was travelling between Newcastle and Manchester Piccadilly on Sunday October 27.

If you recognise the man in the image, contact BTP on freefone 0800 40 50 40 or via text on 61016 quoting background log NEA/B5 of 4/12/2013 and the reference number CS16.

Officers are also still searching for a man and a woman who snatched a bag from Dewsbury train station on Thursday March 14. The bag was accidentally left at the ticket office window. The victim returned a short while later to discover the bag was missing.

BTP Superintendent Eddie Wylie said: “Traditionally we see a rise in the number of people using trains and stations at this time of year. Unfortunately with this we also see an increase in thieves targeting passengers on the railway.

“They often look to take advantage of people who may have consumed too much alcohol, or who may be travelling with a lot of luggage to visit family and friends, or unsuspecting shoppers carrying bags containing expensive presents home.

“We want to create a hostile environment for thieves, making it as difficult as we can for them to operate on any part of the railway network this Christmas.

“We are undertaking extra high visibility and under cover patrols and will be using the excellent CCTV system on the rail network to catch people in the act and put them before the courts.

“This campaign is also about education. We want people to be aware of the tactics that thieves use and how best they can safeguard themselves and look after their property on crowded trains and at stations.”

In the run-up to Christmas, officers will be handing out luggage tags and leaflets with crime prevention advice as well as activity sheets for younger travellers.