Operation Lexford stalls vehicle crime at the Trafford Centre

It has been over 4 weeks since the last vehicle theft was reported at the Trafford centre.

Operation Lexford has fulfilled its aim to robustly tackle vehicle crimes in Trafford.

Officers are continually providing a visible deterrent in shopping centre car parks to stop those thinking of targeting vehicles.

So far, 6 arrests have been made and 12 vehicles recovered, all of the vehicles have been returned to victims.

Officers at the forefront of the fight against vehicle crime at the Trafford Centre

Inspector Leanne Kennedy of GMP’s Trafford District, said: “This operation is an excellent showcase of GMP’s continued commitment to tackling vehicle crime across Greater Manchester.

“As part of the operation, there has been an increased police presence at Trafford Centre and we have been holding weekly police surgeries with focus on providing people with tailored crime prevention advice and we have been working in partnership the Trafford Centre security team. 

"We will continue to work to bring offenders to justice, but I would ask that the public to help us to help them, by being vigilant when visiting the Trafford Centre, and to follow our simple crime prevention advice found on the crime prevention page on our website."

Trafford neighbourhood officers speak about Operation Lexford 

There are a number of ways to minimise the threat of a vehicle being taken when it is parked:

- Double check that your car is locked when leaving it, don’t just rely on the fob as signals can be blocked, preventing vehicles locking.

- Invest in a faraday bag – they are lined with metal material and could help block the key’s signal.

- Don’t leave any valuables on display in your car, even loose change can attract attention.

- Invest in a tracking device – it won’t stop the vehicle being stolen, but it can significantly increase the chances of police locating and returning a vehicle to the rightful owner.

- Fitting a steering wheel lock can reduce opportunities for theft. They are a visual deterrent and can slow an offender down.

As always, stay vigilant and if you notice anything unusual or suspicious, please report it to the police via the LiveChat facility on gmp.police.uk or call 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.