Eastbourne Police, Eastbourne Business Crime Group and the town's Crime Reduction Partnership are joining forces to warn residents about thieves in the town centre.
Trish Pybous, Eastbourne Business Crime Group manager, said, "People in the town are very busy with their Christmas shopping.
"However, there are undoubtedly a number of opportunistic thieves using this as a perfect way to commit crime and get away unnoticed. Local businesses are working closely with Sussex Police and warn shoppers to zip up handbags and pay a little more attention to security in the run up to Christmas in the Town Centre." Eastbourne Neighbourhood Police Inspector Rachel Barrow said, "We are making Eastbourne safer in denying criminals the opportunity to profit over the Christmas period by ensuring we have more officers on patrol and enhancing our town centre patrols under the umbrella of Operation Reindeer. Please be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour straightaway by dialling 999 and asking for the police or by reporting in person to any of the police patrols.
"Should anyone wish to take advantage of the www.immobilise.com facility to register their property, officers will be available in the Arndale Centre to help and guide members of the public through the process on December 19."
Immobilise.com is a website where anyone can create their own personal and secure account, and register their mobile phone or any other property free of charge. Anyone who can offer information about people committing crime in our town can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or the Sussex Police non-emergency call centre on 0845 60 70 999. If a crime is in progress, always dial 999.