Venues Join Forces to Fight Mobile Theft in Nottingham
Victoria Centre and Motorpoint Arena have stepped up to help Nottingham police crack down on rising mobile phone thefts. The popular city centre venues donated prime advertising space on their giant screens to spread the message: “Keep your stuff safe.”
Operation Cloud Targets Sneaky Phone Snatchers
City Centre neighbourhood officers launched Operation Cloud in January after spotting a spike in thefts at fast-food joints and coffee shops. The initiative combines plain-clothed and visible patrols, alongside crime prevention postcards and posters, to warn shoppers to keep an eye on their belongings.
The idea to use the giant screens came from officers themselves, aiming to blast the safety message to thousands of visitors every day. Victoria Centre and Motorpoint Arena bosses agreed to display the warnings free of charge.
Crime Rates Drop Thanks to New Campaign
“We are extremely grateful to both venues for supporting this important campaign,” said Sergeant Paul Whitehead of the City Centre policing team. “It appears to be working: reports of mobile phone distraction thefts have plunged—from 13 in three weeks to just one in 10 days.”
“We’ll keep working with our partners to make Nottingham safer for everyone,” he added.
Venues Proud to Back Safety Efforts
Nigel Wheatley, Victoria Centre director, said: “We’re pleased to support Nottinghamshire Police’s fight against distraction theft. Keeping shoppers, staff, and retailers safe is our top priority. It’s great to see the positive impact this initiative is having across the city.”
Motorpoint Arena’s Head of Security, Sam Hodkin, echoed the sentiment: “The safety of our visitors is paramount. We’ll keep working closely with police to deter crime at the arena.”
The crime prevention postcards urge: “Keep your stuff safe, don’t give anyone the opportunity.” Victoria Centre and Motorpoint Arena are also backing other campaigns, including those targeting Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWAG).
