Police continue to tackle pick-pocket offences in Warrington town centre

OFFICERS from Warrington’s Town Centre Beat Team are continuing their efforts in protecting residents from falling victim to pick-pocket type offences.

In November last year, officers from Warrington Town Centre Beat Team launched Operation Incinerator, which aims to detect, deter and detain those responsible for pick-pocket and distraction theft offences.
Operation Incinerator involves multiple teams from the Local Policing Unit including the Pro-active CID and problem-solving teams, to pursue those responsible for these offences, which have a large effect on victims who are often both at a financial and confidence loss as a direct result.
As part of their approach to tackle the issue head-on, plain-clothed officers will be deployed across the town in order to try and spot those who may be looking to steal from vulnerable people and engage with anyone displaying suspicious behaviour.
A visible uniformed police presence will also be seen with officers engaging with members of the public using cash machines and banks to withdraw large sums of money, in order to give advice on how to best prevent being pick-pocketed.

This advice includes:
• Make your trip to the bank the last place you visit before going home
• Keep any money withdrawn in a secure pocket, ideally on the front of your body
• Keep any bags on your person zipped up and, again, towards the front of your body

The operation has also seen officers work closely with banks themselves, giving them guidance on how to both advise people withdrawing large sums of money and also to spot those who may be waiting for a target to emerge from the bank so that they can contact police as soon as possible.
Operation Incinerator has already proved successful as, most recently on Thursday 13 February 2025, Warrington’s Incinerator officers played a key role in the swift arrest, charge and remand of a woman who travelled to the town from Sheffield by train to commit a pick-pocketing. Their intervention resulted in the recovery of more than £400 that had been stolen.
Police Constable Lewis Hand, of Warrington Town Centre Beat Manager, said: “Pick-pockets are extremely brazen and their actions can have a long-lasting and devastating impact on victims, leaving them with anxiety which can affect their lives going forward.
“As part of this long-running operation, we will be intensifying patrols in hotspots areas, increasing visibility and targeting those who are intent on committing crime.
“This really can happen to anyone, anywhere, and thieves can have very sophisticated ways of distracting you before stealing your belongings. Some people may not even realise it has happened to them until much later.
“If you are approached by anyone you do not know, feel like you are being followed or simply if you feel you have been the victim of a distraction theft or a pick-pocketing, report it straight away or call 101.”