A NEW police operation to crack down on crime in Bury has proved unlucky for 13 "shoppers".

That is the number of people arrested during the first week of Operation Hampton, a spin-off from December's festive Operation Blinder.

About a dozen officers, both uniformed and plain-clothed, blitzed the main town centre shopping centre.

Their efforts, assisted by Bury Council's community safety wardens, Mill Gate security staff, and the CCTV cameras, brought arrests for crimes ranging from shoplifting to burglary.

PC Deana Kenyon of Bury Township Police said: "This latest operation has so far been a huge success. We are determined to let criminals know that Bury is not an easy target."

Most of those arrested were women and most will face prosecution in court.

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