FENLAND residents are being urged to report any suspicious activity in a bid to stop raids on cash machines and post offices across the county. The advice coincides with the dark, autumn and winter evenings which can provide offenders with additional cove

FENLAND residents are being urged to report any suspicious activity in a bid to stop raids on cash machines and post offices across the county.

The advice coincides with the dark, autumn and winter evenings which can provide offenders with additional cover.

Under the banner of Operation Arctic officers from Norfolk will be co-operating with neighbouring forces and agencies in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire in a bid to crack-down on the crime.

Such partnership working means that if a robbery is committed anywhere in the region there is a co-ordinated response from all police forces.

Supt Nick Dean of King's Lynn and West Norfolk, said: "Research has shown that post office robberies and cash machine raids tend to occur in the autumn and winter months because of the darker evenings.

"Any information about strange vehicles or suspicious activity could be vital to the investigation of a crime.

"We would therefore urge homeowners and businesses to note the details of any unusual vehicles parked nearby and contact the police."

Norfolk officers will continue to visit post offices within the county to advise staff on what proactive measures they can take to prevent such an incident, as well as on what to do, should they become a victim.

Although the constabulary is raising awareness the main thrust of its activity is prevention.

High visibility patrols continue in the areas of post offices and where cash machines are installed.

Supt Dean, added: "It is not unusual for offenders committing these crimes to steal a vehicle to commit an offence and to transfer from the stolen vehicle to another parked within the vicinity.

"Such incidents are rare and we do not want to cause undue concern, however, staff and members of the public can play a key role in both preventing robberies and in helping with the early detection of an offence should one occur.

"We have been very successful in recent years in preventing and catching offenders and the assistance from the public has been vital."

Anyone wishing to report any suspicious activity should contact Norfolk Constabulary on 0845 456 4567 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.