Lancashire on robbery ‘lockdown’ (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Lancashire on robbery ‘lockdown’

10:00am Wednesday 9th December 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(3)

CRIMINALS travelling into Lancashire to commit cash van robberies this Christmas ‘will be caught’, top police officers said.

Hundreds of drivers were stopped on the main routes into the area from 8am until midnight yesterday as part of a major operation to keep roving robbers out of the county.

Roadblocks were in place on the A666 Bolton Road at Bull Hill, Darwen, the A675 Belmont Road, Belmont, the A671 Market Street, Whitworth, and on the A56-M66 Edenfield bypass.

Police have also released a rogues gallery of wanted cash-in-transit robbers who have previously struck in Darwen, Colne and Rishton.

The aim of Operation Vault is to protect Lancashire’s borders, particularly in the run up to Christmas with more cash in circulation.

There will be a series of ‘lockdowns’ staged throughout the month, with owners of Audis, BMWs and Seats warned their vehicles are more likely to be stolen by gangs who make the most of their speed to escape.

Firearms officers, motorway police, dog patrols and the Air Support Unit will be used at East Lancashire’s borders.

There will also be extra surveillance and Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras will be used to spot stolen vehicles.

CCTV cameras will also be watching cash collections.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Cooke said the force was the best in the North West for tackling these crimes.

He said: “We work closely with our neighbouring forces and share our intelligence so we know who you are.

“We have the right specialist skills, technology and resources to catch you and we have quality officers who will ensure that if you commit these crimes here in Lancashire you will be caught, prosecuted and go to prison.”

So far this year there have been 10 cash-in-transit robberies across Lancashire.