Mobile phone thefts halve in Cambridge after police operation
Mobile phone thefts from clubs and pubs in Cambridge have more than halved after police stepped up efforts to deter thieves who target such venues.
The number of officers on patrol was increased and venue staff issued warnings to customers following a spate of phone thefts at the end of 2011.
It resulted in a drop in offences from 104 between November and February, to 43 in the past three months.
Cambridgeshire Police said the operation had led to several arrests.
Officers worked with local organisation Cambridge Business Against Crime (Cambac), to raise awareness of what they believed to be a group from outside the city, targeting night-time venues.
Inspector Ian Lyons said: "It is encouraging to see that the number of mobile phone thefts has dropped since we started the campaign and shows that people have been taking extra care of their valuables.
"Staff at bars and pubs in the city have also been a great help by giving advice to customers and looking out for potential offenders."