A SHOPWATCH scheme, started a little over a year ago, has helped apprehend several shoplifters – and police hope more businesses join the Whatsapp group to help cut crime in Teesdale.
The Whatsapp group, which now has 27 members, allows business owners to alert each other of suspicious activity in real-time and works in a similar fashion to the Ruralwatch Whatsapp group, which has helped stop criminals in their tracks.
Both groups are monitored by Barnard Castle Police.
Barnard Castle Neighbourhood police team, PCSO Preet Singh, who helped launch the group, said the Shopwatch group was already showing results and was keen to get more traders signed up.
He said: “It’s been over a year now and it has been successful as we have caught a couple of shoplifters through it. It’s also building good relationships between businesses.
“We’ve got 27 businesses signed up and we’re looking to get more involved in the coming weeks.”
Retail businesses interested in signing up to the Shopwatch Whatsapp should email preet.singh@durham. police.uk for more information.
