‘TIS the season to be careful… That’s the advice from Bury police as they prepare to deal with an expected rise in the number of crimes such as burglaries, pickpocketing and thefts from vehicles over the Christmas period.

In this special feature, the we look at how shoppers and revellers can make the most of one of the most enjoyable dates on the calendar, while taking precautions to ensure that Christmas is not a season of goodwill to all thieves.

BURGLARY A beautifully adorned tree with lovingly wrapped gifts piled high beneathcan be a magnet for callous criminals who see the Christmas period as nothing more than an opportunity to cash in on people’s festive generosity.

Crime reduction advisor Gaynor Mason said stepping up household security was the key to ensuring the only intruder in your home is Santa Claus.

“The message we want to give out is ‘Don’t gift-wrap your Christmas for criminals.’ Burglars will be looking for rich pickings in the run up to the big day as people buy presents and keep them in their homes.”

There are a number of simple but effective ways to deter burglars: l Keep ground floor windows locked or fit restrictors so they can only be slightly opened.

l Keep doors locked even when you are at home.

l Have a three point locking mechanism on external doors at the bottom, middle and top of the door.

l Use timer switches on lights when you are out to give the impression someone is at home.

PICKPOCKETS Thousands of shoppers visit Bury town centre each week but sadly the attractions of a busy and vibrant town centre can, act as a honeypot to professional pickpockets.

However, Bury police and members of the BurySafe partnership are conducting a series of high-profile and undercover operations in the town centre over the next few weeks to ensure that people are aware of the potential risks and can take steps to avoid them.

Detective Chief Inspector Emily Higham, head of Bury’s CID, said: “Organised gangs of pickpockets have been known to travel to Bury specifically on market days and often target vulnerable members of the public.

“I would advise people to always keep their purses and wallets secure and never to keep their PIN numbers with their credit cards. Distributing money around your person can also add an extra layer of security and means that if you do fall victim to pickpockets you don’t lose everything in one fell swoop.”

Town Centre Manager Lisa Durkin said that staff would be monitoring more than 40 CCTV cameras throughout the shopping district to look out for offenders.

“The CCTV cameras are monitored round the clock, 365 days a year so there will always be someone keeping watch to detect any incidents which will be reported directly to the police.

“Shoppers and visitors need to be vigilant to protect their personal property, shopping and belongings,” she said.

Town centre Sergeant Chris Mannion said the force was running a number of initiatives over the Christmas period.

“We have a mobile police station which we will position in the town centre during market days, from which officers will offer crime prevention advice as well as providing a reassuring presence to the public.

Our officers will be conducting high visibility and plainclothes patrols in order to disrupt crime – in particular theft from the person. Other initiatives include: l Distributing 750 personal panic alarms.

l Running bike marking sessions at Halford and the Cycle Centre on Rochdale Road.

l Running mobile phone marking sessions in Bury Market on market days up until Christmas Eve.

CARS Christmas cars can be full of expensive shopping, which if left in view can present an open invitation to thieves to help themselves to some early Christmas presents. By removing shopping and other valuables from the car or out of sight in the boot motorists can help ensure that they do not become victims.

Dave Jones of the BurySafe partnership said: “I would advise people always to ensure their vehicle is parked in a well-lit position and remember to check if it has been locked properly, particularly if you are using a remote locking fob.”

A common mistake many victims make is returning to their car after a hard morning’s shopping and then returning to their vehicles to drop off their purchase before heading back for a second stint on the High Street.

DCI Emily Higham said that many criminals actively preyed on unwary Christmas shoppers returning to their cars to leave their bags.

“Do not leave presents on show in vehicles and where possible do not put them in the boot and return to the shops as thieves could be watching. It may also be an idea to actually get in your car and move it to another parking space before heading back out as this could give the impression you are going home,” said DCI Higham.

Other tips include: l Remove all items of property when leaving vehicles including Sat Navs and stereos.

l Park in busy areas near CCTV cameras and use a car park that has the Park Mark sign, which means it has police approved security measures.

l Lock all shopping bags in the boot and be aware of anyone acting suspicious in and around car parks.