A new campaign aimed at highlighting the issue of personal robbery and raising awareness of advice which could help deter offenders has been launched by Cleveland Police.
Throughout September, digital adverts have been displayed around the Middlesbrough town centre area, with a QR code so people can access personal safety advice; such as using cash machines in well-lit areas and avoiding carrying a wallet in a back trouser pocket.
Cleveland Police takes all incidents of robbery extremely seriously. Whilst incidents of personal robbery have recently reduced, officers are not complacent and are doing everything possible to bring offenders to justice; including regular hotspot patrols and targeting known offenders.
Within the last twelve months, there have been 741 personal robberies recorded, with the age of victims ranging predominantly between 26 and 60; although closely followed by children and teenagers aged 11-17.
Middlesbrough has the highest number of incidents (316) of the four districts in the Cleveland Police area; above Hartlepool (123), Stockton (199) and Redcar and Cleveland (103).
Following the recent case of Mark Harvey, who robbed a mother and daughter in Middlesbrough in May 2024, the mother spoke out about her ordeal in a victim impact statement read to Teesside Crown Court.
Harvey was jailed for seven-and-a-half years in prison and four-and-a-half years on licence in the community, following a Cleveland Police investigation.
The statement described the terrifying events and the impact this incident had on the victim. She said: “I feared for my daughter’s and my own safety. Whilst pointing the knife at my daughter and I, the man demanded my purse in an aggressive tone. He used the words ‘give me your purse before I kill you.’”
Harvey then chased the woman and her daughter before they jumped into a passing taxi which stopped to help.
The victim continued: “I am still in a state of shock from the incident. I did not sleep well through the night as every time I close my eyes I am reliving it and seeing the man with the knife. This incident has left me mentally scarred.
“I keep thinking that my daughter and I could have died.
“It will take me a long time to recover, if I do, recover from this incident.”
Detective Chief Inspector Alan O’Donoghue, Force lead for robbery, said: “Robbery can happen to anyone, and sadly we know that often vulnerable members of our community are targeted. This can be terrifying and can have a long-lasting impact on their lives.
“With this in mind, Cleveland Police will continue to tackle offenders and bring them before the courts.
“A lot of robberies are opportunistic; therefore, this campaign is also intended to raise awareness of some simple steps which may help protect members of the public.
"Our work so far has seen a 14.5% reduction in personal robbery over the past 12 months, and through public awareness we can continue to reduce the number of victims within Cleveland.”
Visit the Cleveland Police website by clicking here for advice and more information on this campaign.