IT is crucial that every shoplifting incident is reported police have said.

Devon and Cornwall Police will be working with businesses throughout this festive period to create safe shopping environments, to reduce crime and improve reporting.

Uniformed officers will be out and about in town centres, at late-night shopping events and Christmas markets in the run up to Christmas, working closely with Community Safety partners, local council CCTV and members from the local Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), to identify prolific shoplifters, theft hotspots and engage with local businesses.

Joe Champness, the crime prevention lead for Devon & Cornwall Police said: ‘We are aware how much shoplifting can impact our business communities and we are urging business owners to report incidents to us as it helps create a profile and understand where our resources are best placed.

‘We use that information to coordinate our response in dealing with those causing the most harm and risk.

‘Our objective is to engage with local businesses to better understand the issues affecting them, highlight the work already taking place to support retailers and encourage the reporting of crime.

‘By working together, we can help reduce shoplifting and its’ impact on our communities.’

Latest crime figures show that shoplifting has increased nationally by 37 percent.

In a bid to reduce shoplifting in Devon & Cornwall, local neighbourhood teams are regularly engaging with retailers and local agencies, conducting plain clothes operations and visible patrols in shoplifting hotspots such as Exeter City Centre.

For more information about crime prevention please visit the Devon & Cornwall Police website.

You can report shoplifting to us either online or via our 101 non-emergency service, or anonymously via Crimestoppers.

Devon and Cornwall Alert system offers crime prevention advice and warns of crime trends and incidents. Its free to sign up, for more information visit the DC Alert website.