Flintshire officers will be taking part in a plain clothes operation targeting shoplifters in areas where these offences increase over Christmas. 

Flintshire South Neighbourhood Policing Team announced earlier this week that there would be an increased police presence on high streets to prevent shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.

The team has now announced officers will be having plain clothes officers in areas of increased crime and thefts to deter and catch shoplifters. 

Sgt Kerry Nash from Flintshire South Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "Shoplifting offences tend to spike over the Christmas period, this operation aims to both deter and catch shoplifters in the act by having plain clothes officers in areas where we see the biggest increases in crime and high value thefts.

"Our message this Christmas is that shoplifting will not be tolerated in our communities"

Wrexham policing team previously announced they will also be dealing with the rise in thefts over Christmas by placing officers out and about in plain clothes to support store security staff and their other uniformed officers.

READ MORE: Wrexham: Police aiming to tackle rise in shoplifters over Christmas

On November 10, Mike Norbury, support sergeant for NWP's Wrexham Rural team explained: "We saw five retail thefts (shopliftings) over the past 24 hours and it's getting busier as we run up to Christmas.

"We will be putting officers out in plain clothes to support store security and uniformed officers. I would ask you to say 'hi' to them, but I'm hoping you don't see them!"