Opportunistic thieves preying on bustling Christmas crowds at the Belconnen shops will be targeted by specialised police teams this festive season.
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Belconnen Police Station has reintroduced a special seven- member beats team to target theft, shoplifting, and anti-social behaviour in the Westfield Shopping Centre and surrounding districts.
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Officers will patrol the area in plain clothes and uniform, working with security guards and shop owners to crack down on thieves.
Belconnen beats Sergeant Paul Hutcheson said there was a definite spike in theft and shoplifting over the Christmas period.
''You have a lot more people here at the mall, the shop attendants are a lot busier, security cameras can't be everywhere,'' Sergeant Hutcheson said.
''So we're here, and we're going to be working very heavily to minimise the opportunities for people to commit theft.''
The team is the only one of its kind to be specially set up to patrol a shopping centre over the Christmas period.
But Sergeant Hutcheson said Belconnen was not any worse than other town centres.
Part of the team's role will be to stamp out anti-social behaviour inside the shops, as well as throughout the car parks and surrounding business district.
''The complaints police receive might be people drinking, having open alcohol containers, swearing, just making people feel uncomfortable,'' Sergeant Hutcheson said.
Police are warning Christmas shoppers to keep a wary eye on their valuables and to make sure their cars are secure.
People should not leave handbags or purses hanging on trolleys or sitting in the baskets of trolleys, Sergeant Hutcheson said. ''But also with the car parks, people target-hardening their vehicles, making sure they're not leaving their mobile phone, or wallets or other valuables in plain sight,'' he said.
''Making sure they're locking their vehicles, and where appropriate, if they've got an alarm and the alarm is activated, they've got a steering lock, put that on as well.''
The team began on Monday and will patrol the Belconnen Town Centre until January 20.