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January Peak Month for Street Crime, Home Office Warns

January is the peak month of the year for street crime and new Christmas presents must be kept hidden, the Home Office is warning.

Young people in particular need to be wary of thieves taking advantage of the dark and targeting people with new mobile phones and MP3 players. Home Office Minister Hazel Blears said: “Victims of street crime come from all ages and backgrounds.

Around 40 per cent of all robbery involves a victim and offender under the age of 21, and we know that January traditionally sees a rise in the number of victims of street crime.“

Tips for staying safe include: keeping all bags zipped and putting wallets and purses where they can’t be seen; spreading your possessions about - for example, keeping your mobile phone separate from your money; avoiding using a phone at crowded bus stops and busy train stations, and considering replacing white iPod earphones with standard dark earphones.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .