WHITEHILL police has declared its operation to crackdown on Christmas crime a success.

Operation Chalender took place in the run up to Christmas and targeted crime in both Bordon and Petersfield.

In the two week period, six extra police officers targeted shoplifters and purse snatchers in the town centres.

Six people were arrested on suspicion of theft, and 20 in total were stopped and spoken to by officers and asked to account for their presence in the towns.

Pc Louisa Whatmore, from Longmoor Tactical Unit, planned and briefed everyone on the operation.

She said: "This operation was successful in its intention to disrupt the activities of shoplifters in the towns of Bordon and Petersfield.

"We also succeeded in recovering property stolen from shops and the offenders were arrested and dealt with appropriately."

She added: "We are very pleased with the result." She said stolen items included CDs chocolate, clothes and other gifts.

In Bordon, the officers patrolled the Forest Centre and Chalet Hill, while in Peterfield the centre of the town was targeted.

Four undercover police were stationed in Bordon and Petersfield throughout the operation, in addition to two uniformed officers who were on the beat in both towns creating a police presence.

Police said it was not just locals who were caught stealing. Some people had travelled to Peterfield and Bordon especially to shoplift Christmas gifts. They said this was a particular problem in Petersfield where thieves travel in on the train. Sergeant James Nobles, said the operation also meant police could tackle the problem to anti- social behaviour.

He said: "This was the first time this operation was run in Bordon.

"Bordon has its own problems and we were also able to tackle ant-social behaviour as well."

He said that plain clothes police officers were able to witness anti-social behaviour and put a stop to it then and there.

He said: "For example, I dealt with one group of youths at the back of the gift shop in the Forest Centre."

He described how he was able to disperse a group of rowdy youths who were disturbing shoppers by playing football against the shop wall.

He said: "The word got round that the operation was coming and thieves did not come in. The operation not only detected, it deterred as well."