Lincolnshire’s West Lindsey council report has claimed that CCTV network in proving valuable as the city is seeing a rise in shoplifting and a spate of serious burglaries.
Over the past three months, several businesses have been repeatedly targeted in West Lindsey, causing extensive loss and damage.
According to local reports, crime is returning to pre-pandemic levels with a rise in shoplifting and a spate of serious burglaries being reported.
Meanwhile, a council report says the CCTV network has been valuable in catching the perpetrators of both low-level and serious crime.
“Following the end of any pandemic lockdowns, we have seen a steady increase in shoplifting incidents returning to levels seen prior to the pandemic,” the West Lindsey District Council report says.
“CCTV operators monitor for known offenders and use our two-way radio system to communicate with Shop Watch members. The primary aim is to prevent known offenders accessing retail stores and being in a position to steal items.
“Within the past three months we have used CCTV footage to support a number of higher profile police investigations and subsequent prosecutions.
“This has included a spate of commercial burglaries in Gainsborough where some retail premises were targeted multiple times resulting in extensive loss and damage. CCTV footage was used to help track, locate and identify offenders.”
A total of 206 cameras across the patch are monitored during all the hours every day of the year.
An additional 82 cameras are currently being installed, and upgrades will be taking place in Market Rasen, Hemswell Cliff and Richmond Park over the next year.
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