Police forces across the North West have launched a crackdown on cash in transit robberies, stepping up patrols to prevent delivery vans being targeted in the run-up to Christmas.
Detectives from ‘Titan’, the regional organised crime unit, are working alongside officers from Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Cumbria and North Wales to combat the threat as they continue their pledge to keep people safe this Christmas.
Patrols will be routinely following vans delivering and collecting cash from ATMS, banks, post offices and shops to ensure that security guards remain safe during their busiest time of the year. GMP’s police dogs will also be providing a visible presence.
There remains an issue with cash in transit robberies, particularly in Greater Manchester and Merseyside where there has been a rise this year. Titan is working with individual forces and the security industry to target the gangs responsible and stop employees and businesses suffering from these crimes.
Greater Manchester Police Detective Superintendent Mark Smith added:
“Cash in transit robberies are extremely serious, often violent crimes that have a lasting impact on those involved. Some people may believe that these crimes are victimless but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
“The drivers of these vehicles are just ordinary members of the public doing their job yet an attack can ruin their lives, causing serious physical and psychological damage. Innocent members of the public can get caught up in the incident and also be affected, as can staff working at the business where the cash was being delivered to or collected from.
“We will be watching these vans closely over the festive period, with trained officers and police dogs in the surrounding areas. Let us be clear – we will be making life very difficult for criminals this season.”
Detective Inspector Jon Smith from Titan’s regional intelligence unit, said:
“Investigations into these crime by local forces have had some great successes and have resulted in offenders being jailed for up to ten years. Our intelligence shows that offenders are working as organised criminal groups who are travelling from one part of the region to commit crimes in another, which means that it is in everyone’s interests to tackle this threat together.
“Detectives at Titan work closely with SaferCash analysts and security experts to spot similarities between robberies across the region both in terms of the offenders themselves and how they carry out their attacks. We also link in with investigation teams in each force to support their extensive efforts to catch the offenders.
“With the cash itself being protected by a whole range of devices such as dyes to stain the notes and render them useless, criminals are taking a significant risk of being caught if they chose to commit this type of crime this Christmas.”
Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 9063 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
