Police urge Dumfries and Galloway shoppers to be on guard in run-up to Christmas

Police in Dumfries and Galloway have urged shoppers to be on their guard during the festive season.

Officers fear there will be a rise in shoplifting over the next few weeks, as well as an increase in the number of online scams.

Castle Douglas Community Policing Constable, Chloe Ellis, said: “As the local shops get busier in the lead up to Christmas we tend to see an increase in the level of shoplifting, and that is why you will see a very visible increased police presence in and around our town centres.

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“Your local police officers will be doing more foot patrols to deter and detect shoplifters and working hard to help local shop staff keep their premises safe.

“I would ask for your continued support to help crack down on shoplifters. If you see someone acting suspiciously in shops, or think they might be stealing, please either bring it to the attention of the shop staff or the police as soon as possible, to give us the best possible chance of catching them.

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“Pay safely if you’re buying something from an online marketplace, never communicate with sellers outside of the site and don’t pay via bank transfer – it’s much harder to get your money back if the goods don’t arrive or turn out to be fake.

“Remember if it’s too good to be true, it is!”