Shops alerted over regular thieves

The festive period is traditionally a time when businesses can be targeted by thieves who take advantage of busier shops, so officers are working with store owners in Huddersfield and Dewsbury to point out regular shoplifters.

Police are warning shopkeepers about three shoplifters in Dewsbury who have been through police custody three or more times in the last year and have tested positive for class A drugs and about four repeat offenders in Huddersfield, providing them with posters displaying pictures of the repeat offenders.

The posters are not for public display but shopworkers seeing anyone featured are being asked to call the police.

Mick Walker, of Kirklees Drug Intervention Programme said yesterday: "Sadly there are a small number of people in Kirklees who have been caught shoplifting a number of times and show no signs of stopping.

Many offenders are known drug users and police officers now have powers to stop and check the repeat offenders to see if they are carrying drugs or suspected stolen goods.