Increased police presence will be visible at Sunshine Coast shopping centres during the festive season in a bid to enhance safety.
As locals flock to shopping centres ahead of Christmas, Sunshine Coast police are conducting high-visibility patrols to disrupt and deter offending.
The action includes extra and extended shifts by local officers and police liaison officers (PLOs) at shopping centres and other crime hotspot locations like public parks, skate parks and public transport hubs.
Child Protection and Investigation Unit investigators have also established an operation to target youth offending and anti-social behaviour.
The operation will include targeted patrols in consultation with shopping centre management and security, shop owners and staff to ensure safety is best supported during the expected increase in attendance.
Regional operations and youth crime deputy commissioner Shane Chelepy said it was one of many proactive initiatives police had planned to keep the community safe in the lead-up to the holidays.
“We know around the holidays that families, tourists and young people on school break all head to shopping centres and it is a priority for QPS to help ensure everyone can enjoy the experience safely,” he said.
“We want the public to know police will be out and about in a high-visibility capacity doing all they can to disrupt the minority who seek to commit crime.”
Sunshine Coast District’s Detective Inspector Christopher Toohey said patrols would extend beyond the inside of shopping centres, with a focus also on deterring would-be car thieves.
“The car parks are also a priority for our high-visibility patrols, and we ask shoppers to work with us to keep your property safe while you shop,” he said.
“We ask you to please lock your car and take your car keys with you, and ensure any valuables or shopping bags you leave in your vehicle are out of sight.
“Police will then conduct regular patrols in a high-visibility manner aiming to deter and disrupt offences, and take immediate action if required.”
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