YOUR Christmas presents are set to be safeguarded by undercover police patrolling Warrington’s distribution hubs throughout December.

Cheshire Police is launching its annual operation to support delivery drivers and couriers over the festive period.

With Christmas just weeks away officers will be visiting key locations – a such as Omega – and engaging with delivery drivers to provide reassurance and offer key crime prevention advice.

This year’s operation will launch on Friday, December 1, and it will run through to New Year’s Eve.

As part of the operation, plans have been put in place that will see both marked and unmarked police vehicles patrolling key routes and roads near to distribution centres in the town.

DS Clare Coleman, who is leading the operation, said: “It is now commonplace for people to order online, which means there are many delivery vehicles already out on our streets.

“But in the run up to Christmas, the pressure to deliver all-important Christmas presents increases, meaning there are even more delivery drivers out on the roads, making them a potential target for thieves.

“So far here in Cheshire, we have only seen a very small number of incidents involving thefts from couriers and delivery vehicles, and we are committed to doing all we can to keep it this way.

“As part of this operation we are also encouraging couriers to play their part by ensuring they take all the necessary steps to reduce their chances of becoming a victim.”

Delivery drivers are being urged to help play their part by following a number of simple steps to reduce the chances of falling foul of thieves.

These include reporting suspicious activity to the police, making regular check-ins with employers or family, ensuring your phone is fully charged and using alternate routes rather than regular ones.

If something does not look or feel right, do not make the delivery, call your employer and explain the circumstances.

Be aware of your surroundings and avoid areas that are not well lit, park under a streetlight if possible and carry a torch to illuminate dark areas and walkways.

If you feel threatened, activate the panic alarm on your vehicle to draw attention to the situation.

Always lock your vehicle, even if you are only leaving it for a short period of time, and consider darkening rear windows to prevent passers-by from seeing what’s inside.

You could also install a tracker and other additional security features.

DCI Coleman added: “As well as police, residents also have a role to play by reporting any suspicious activity and always ensuing that somebody is at home when any parcels are delivered.

“By working together, we can all help to reduce the chances of falling victim to these unscrupulous thieves and help ensure everyone gets their deliveries this Christmas.”

Anyone looking to report any suspicious activity is urged to call Cheshire Police on 101, or always 999 in an emergency, or visit cheshire.police.uk/tua/