POLICE are targeting thieves who steal from Christmas shoppers and stores during the festive season.
Officers are carrying out extra patrols as thousands of shoppers flood into the city centre to buy their presents.
Undercover officers will also be out to target known shoplifters who try to take advantage of the busy period.
Inspector Craig Mattinson, who heads up the Riverside policing team covering the city centre, said: "It's our busiest time of the year and it could be a thieves paradise, mainly because of the footfall coming into the city centre.
"With that brings opportunities for thieves to commit crime. There are lots of people around and, what we are trying to do is increase our visibility to reassure people.
"We want people to enjoy Christmas, enjoy doing their shopping, and keep themselves and their possessions safe."
Extra officers have been drafted into the city centre as part of Humberside Police's annual Operation Yuletide, which aims to cut Christmas crime.
Insp Mattinson said the main issues for police in the city centre are shoplifting and thieves stealing from cars.
"People are leaving themselves vulnerable to the opportunistic thief by doing their shopping, leaving it on the back seats of their car, then doing some more shopping," he said.
"Not only could it mean they lose the Christmas presents they have bought, but they will also have the inconvenience of having to get their vehicle repaired.
"It is a double whammy and it's not a nice position to be in.
"We are asking people to think about crime and, if they do have presents in their cars, to make sure their car is locked and their presents are in the boot. It is just about being
sensible."
Police have seen huge rises in shoplifting this year, with a notable increase in people stealing for the first time as they struggle to make ends meet.
To combat the thieves, officers will be using uniformed and undercover officers to patrol the busiest shopping areas.
Known thieves could be stopped and searched and drunken troublemakers could be banned from the city centre for up to 48 hours.
"We will be having those dedicated officers around the stores that are most vulnerable and generally targeted by thieves," said Insp Mattinson.
"We are also working closely with the shops to help them secure their stock.
"The officers will also be stopping known shoplifters and searching them. If they are under the influence of alcohol, we can use the section
27 red cards to ban them from the city centre.
"We do have quite a lot of street drinkers who go out committing crime. This is a way of removing them from the streets so people can do their shopping without the fear of crime."
Insp Mattinson is also warning people not to fall foul of burglars who are looking to steal presents.
He said: "People want to have their Christmas trees on
display, so they will leave the
curtains open and lights on.
"For the opportunistic thief, this means they can see any presents that are under the tree.
"They will then try the door and, if it is unlocked, will go in and destroy somebody's Christmas in seconds.
"If people are putting presents under the tree, it is really important they keep their doors and windows locked, even when they are in the house.
"We are not trying to be glum, we just want people to be sensible and hopefully have a crime-free festive season."
Anyone who wishes to contact their neighbourhood policing team can visit www.humberside.police.uk or call 101.
