Police have issued an update on their new operation to tackle car thefts at the Trafford Centre. The public were issued a warning last month following a spate of vehicle thefts from the busy shopping centre, with Range Rovers and Ford Fiestas among the cars targeted.
Greater Manchester Police vowed to increase patrols as part of 'Operation Lexford', working with the Trafford Centre to clamp down on thieves who had been using signal jamming and scanning devices to steal people's cars.
In an update on Monday, (February 6), police said a vehicle theft has not been reported to them for a total of three weeks following an increase in patrols at the Trafford Centre and advice given out on how to keep vehicles secure.
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The latest arrests involved three men who were taken into custody by officers from the Tactical Vehicle Interceptor Unit on suspicion of two vehicle crimes at the Trafford centre and two more vehicle thefts in Bolton.
Chief Inspector Shoheb Chowdhury of GMP’s Trafford District said: “It is imperative that we continue to tackle vehicle crime head on. As part of the operation, we provide an increased police presence at Trafford Centre and hold weekly police surgeries with focus on providing people with tailored crime prevention advice.
"We have dedicated officers that provide preventative advice which really helps us help you in keeping yourself and your belongings safe. The arrests last night show the dedicated approach that officers take to tackle vehicle crimes.
“We understand that cars are of great value to people and we understand that having a car stolen can have a huge impact both financially and emotionally."
A spokesperson from Trafford Centre said, “Our security and customer services teams take car theft very seriously and we are working closely with Greater Manchester Police on this issue. We minimise car theft on-site through the use of ANPR, CCTV and camera patrols so all vehicles entering and leaving the car parks are monitored and logged.
“This data and footage is made available to GMP as required. We also deploy high profile patrols in all car parks to deter thieves and run multiple police operations on-site to apprehend offenders.”
Police have issued advice on a number of ways the threat of vehicle thefts can be minimised, including double checking doors are locked, hiding valuables or investing in a steering wheel lock or tracking device. Drivers can also buy a faraday bag which are lined with metal material to block the key's signal.
Anyone who notices anything unusual or suspicious can report it to the police via the LiveChat facility on gmp.police.uk or call 101.
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