A TOTAL of 144 people have now been arrested in Operation Santa - a police crackdown on crime in Bolton town centre. They include 11 suspected thieves re-arrested after breaking their bail conditions by entering the shopping centre. The suspects had previously been arrested and released on bail on condition that they did not enter Bolton's shopping centre before court appearances in the New Year.

The 11 were re-arrested after being spotted in the town centre.

The squad of police officers and store detectives has now seized stolen property worth more than £10,000.

The majority of those arrested are facing theft or car crime charges. Four have been arrested for public order offences and two for begging.

The operation, involving uniformed and plain clothes officers, the Bolton Police traffic unit and mounted officers and aided by store detectives, was launched on November 20. The crackdown will continue into the New Year.

Police chief, Supt Ian McLoughlin, said the operation has been "very successful."

He said gangs of pickpockets and thieves, from as far afield as Blackpool, Preston and Liverpool, have been arrested in the operation.

But he said he felt the public could do more to help beat crime.

He said the number of cars being broken into in the town centre is "unacceptably high."

He felt this was due on many occasions to motorists leaving presents and other valuables on display in their vehicles.

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