British Transport Police is warning people travelling into the city by train in the run up to Christmas to pay special attention to the security of their belongings and to watch out for purse and bag dippers.
The alert comes as thousands of visitors are expected to descend on the city this weekend, to watch the Christmas lights switch on, which heralds the countdown to the city’s famous Christmas markets.
But, while the festivities get underway, passengers are being urged to keep their wits about them and an eye on their belongings as this time of year is particularly attractive to pickpockets who could be lurking in crowded paces, particularly busy train carriages.
Chief Inspector Andrea Graham said: “We don’t want to be killjoys or to put a dampener on the festivities, but it really is vital to pay extra attention to your bags and belongings to avoid becoming the victim of pickpockets and purse dippers.
“We want everyone travelling into the city to enjoy the Christmas countdown and this means looking out for their valuables, as being the victim of theft can ruin Christmas.”
While crime on trains and at stations is thankfully rare, and hundreds of millions of journeys are made safely, officers are warning passengers to be extra vigilant during the busy festive period, with crowded carriages often proving an attractive environment for thieves.
“Crowded trains are the perfect opportunity for thieves to grab Christmas shopping or snatch valuables. We will have more officers on patrol at these busy times who will be engaging with and advising the public on how best to protect their possessions.
“We also see a rise in retail theft at stations in the run up to Christmas – our message to any would-be thieves is this – ‘Don’t be tempted – we are watching you. Don’t ruin your Christmas with a criminal record’.”
