Police post personalised prison postcards

[Nostalgia]

POLICE are sending ‘Wish you were here?’ prison cell postcards to around 60 burglars and car thieves in Loughborough as part of a new campaign to cut crime.



The cards, which feature pictures of police cells on the front with the message ‘Wish you were here?’ will be hand delivered by officers to 60 thieves in the area.

The postcards will also be personalised, warning known thieves to stop offending or their next destination could be prison.

The postcard reads: “If you do offend, as our postcard shows, we can offer you excellent accommodation with lots of bars.”

It will also be sent to offenders who have served their time in prison and are just being released back into the community as well as any offender who enters Loughborough police station in the next three months.

Since April, burglaries have risen by seven per cent and vehicle crime by nine per cent and police are attempting to “nip it in the bud” before it escalates.

Supt Jez Cottrill, who is leading the campaign, told the Echo: “The vast majority of offenders we are targeting have been charged or convicted for vehicle crime and burglary in the last two years.

“The postcards inform criminals we are not being complacent. We are noticing their offending and if they continue, we will be offering them accommodation in The Lock ‘Em Inn.”

Supt Cottrill says the recent increase in burglary and vehicle crime – a known offence carried out by criminals with drug addictions – could be down to the current economic climate.

He added: “We are now hearing local drug prices have increased and the more expensive they are, the more crime is carried out to fund their habit.

“For example, an eighth ounce of heroin used to be £70 but now is selling for £90 to £100.”
http://www.loughboroughecho.net/news...3871-21849593/