Christmas shoppers given bells to deter pickpockets

Thousands of security items are being handed to shoppers in Coventry

Shoppers in Coventry city centre are being handed free bells and safety accessories to deter thieves over the festive season.

Coventry BID has teamed up with West Midlands police to provide extra security during late night shopping trips.

The city centre business organisation has also invested in thousands of credit card defenders - a pouch which prevents sensitive information being skimmed.

Joanne Glover from Coventry Bid said: “Footfall is up, it's busy, everyone’s having fun. It's such a lovely atmosphere and we just don’t want that ruined."

"We want people to come into the city and feel that they can enjoy themselves and feel safe at the same time,” she added.

The BID is offering more than 4,500 credit card defenders, 5,000 purse-dipping bells to attach and 1,000 cables to clip purses to bags to shoppers for free.

It has teamed up with city centre banks and building societies to give out the digital defenders, which help stop thieves stealing card information.

The items were introduced on Wednesday as part of a crime-prevention day with West Midlands Police, ahead of the start of late-night shopping in the city.

Shoppers were also given advice on staying safe while stores stayed open until 20:00 GMT.

A big wheel and festive market in Broadgate are also driving an increase in visitors.

Shoppers told BBC CWR they welcomed the safety initiative and hoped it would prove a deterrent to criminals.

“We're no different to any other town or city, that crime… increases around the Christmas period with people pickpocketing," Ms Glover said.

"[We wanted] to help the shoppers feel a bit safer in the city.”

A big wheel in Broadgate is drawing people to the city centre

Insp Simon Finney from West Midlands Police said visitors should expect an "enhanced" police presence in the city centre "as part of our darker nights and safer streets campaign".

Police and the BID are handing out the security items on Market Way and Smithford Way on Thursday.