More shoppers have been able to keep a grip on their finances this year, with the South Wales Police Christmas campaign ‘Jingle Bells’ helping to drop the number of purse thefts by 50% compared to previous years.
The initiative, developed by PC Lisa Mathews, Crime Prevention Officer for South Wales Police and the Safer Bridgend Partnership, involved small metal bells on clips being distributed to the general public throughout the Borough.
The bells were designed to be attached to wallets and purses, alerting their owners should somebody attempt to move them illegitimately. None of the purses stolen during this year’s Christmas period had the Jingle Bells attached.
Inspector Eddie Ough, head of Partnerships and Justice for Bridgend stated, “I would like to thank the public for their tremendous response to the Jingle Bells initiative. It was fantastic. Demand was so great that at an early stage in the campaign manufacturers ran out of supplies. We eventually provided in excess of 10,000 bells.
“We’re thrilled that the campaign has contributed to such a significant reduction in crime. Whilst we were encouraged by this reduction in crimes over the festive season it is important that shoppers continue to remain vigilant all year round, and we still have bells available, free of charge, at major police stations in the borough.”