'Operation Silent Night' aims to fightcrime in rural area
POLICE have mounted a major operation to combat crime in the countryside and villages around Ballymena, the local District Policing Partnership has been told.
‘Operation Silent Night’ has resulted in extra patrols in the late evenings and early mornings throughout the rural area as police seek to apprehend criminals operating in what they term as ‘vulnerable areas’.
However, police also pointed out that in percentage terms the breakdown of rural to urban theft indicated that the town itself had the biggest problem with 70.6% of thefts occurring in within the town boundaries and 29.4% taking place in the countryside.
The town centre was the area worst affected by theft from vehicles, followed by the Portglenone and Cullybackey areas.