UNDERCOVER police are to target Huddersfield’s Christmas pickpockets.

And it is just one of the ways we plan to reduce crime in the next few weeks.

We are urging shoppers to look after their property in the run-up to Christmas.

Plainclothes officers will work alongside uniformed patrols in the town centre to catch the pickpockets and bag-snatchers at work.

Last year, between August and December, 94 people were the victim of theft in Huddersfield town centre alone.

Of these, 35 were people aged 65 or over.

With many of the thefts being items stolen from handbags, my colleague Sgt Mandy Mellor, of the Huddersfield South Neighbourhood Policing team, is urging people to look after their bags and mobile phones.

In a bid to reduce the number of offences that are committed this year, Sgt Mellor has set up a project that will run from mid-November up to the Christmas holidays.

Plain clothes and uniform officers will be out in the town centre, speaking to shoppers and offering crime prevention advice.

But they will also be looking to target offenders, and working closely with local businesses to reduce town centre crime.

Sgt Mellor said: “Unfortunately we do see an increase in bag snatches and purse dipping offences in the run up to Christmas as more people are out in the town doing their Christmas shopping and tend to have more money on their person than they would ordinarily.

“These crimes are almost always carried out against people who leave their property at risk of being stolen.

“Purse chains or secret pockets are available on the internet and are effective methods of reducing your chances of becoming a victim of this type of crime.

“We would also always ask people to make sure they keep bags closed and close to their sides and to wear straps around their necks, rather than loosely over the shoulder.”

She added: “Ultimately, personal safety should come before the safety of your property.

“In the event someone does take your bag, let it go. It is not worth getting hurt for its contents. Your safety is always more important than your property.”

More crime prevention advice from www.westyorkshire.police.uk