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I wanted to provide you with an update regarding Theft - (shoplifting, personal, other), which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey. Bedfordshire Police has intensified its proactive response to a recent rise in robbery offences, with targeted patrols and enforcement activity continuing in Luton under Operation Rovik.
Four knives, including two machetes, almost £1,000 in cash and Class A drugs were seized in the last week, after officers from the force’s Community Enforcement Team (CET) carried out a series of high-visibility and plain clothes patrols in the town centre. Mobile phones suspected to be used in drug dealing were also recovered.
During Wednesday night (16 July), four arrests were made on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon following eight stop and searches.
The following evening (17 July), one person was arrested on suspicion of robbery, leading to a charge and remand. Six stop and searches were carried out, with five resulting in Class B drug seizures. Three individuals were referred to the Youth Offending Team, and one fixed penalty notice was issued for aggressive begging in the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) area.
Overnight on Friday (18 July), nine stop and searches led to the seizure of Class B drugs and the recovery of one knife. Just yesterday (Monday), officers conducted eight stop and searches, recovering one knife and seizing Class B drugs.
Detective Inspector Emma Huggett from Bedfordshire Police said: "Every search, every arrest, every weapon seized, and every piece of intelligence gathered as part of Op Rovik is helping us build a clearer picture of those driving this violence. We are also taking drugs off the streets and penalising those involved in their sale.
“There is a clear and dangerous link between the drugs trade and violent crime including robbery. Robberies are extremely traumatic for victims, and no-one has the right to steal with the threat of violence. We are determined to disrupt this type of criminality using a variety of resources and tactics employed by our Community Enforcement Team.
"Our patrols will continue, as will our ongoing investigations. We will continue to identify proactive opportunities to identify and arrest those conducting these robberies.”
You can follow advice to help protect yourself from robbery on our website: https://www.beds.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/personal-safety-how-to-stay-safe/
If you have been a victim of robbery, please contact Bedfordshire Police via 101, or 999 in an emergency. You can also report anti-social and suspicious activity on: https://www.beds.police.uk/ro/report/asb/asb-v3/report-antisocial-behaviour/
For more information about patrols in Luton, follow the Luton Community Policing Team on Facebook.
 If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.beds.police.uk, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org. Get Involved Please consider getting involved by registering for these messages, this will enable you to contribute to the local priority survey. We may be unaware of issues that you would like us to focus on. Take a few minutes to securely and privately register and have your say using the button below, this will mean we can focus on things that matter to you. 
Please click here to complete the survey
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