14/12/2008 00:00
TW
0
By Humphrey Carter

PALMA
EXTRA members of the Guardia Civil and three National Police are going to be on the beat this Christmas as part of the annual festive security campaign.

Just last week, the Balearics' largest retail association expressed its concern that its members may fall victim to credit-crunch fuelled crime this winter with people losing their jobs and their homes.

A few weeks ago a young man armed with an air pistol tried to holdup a Palma frozen food store but was successfully overcome by a security guard and a client.

However, the incident set alarm bells ringing in the retail sector.
Yesterday, central government delegate to the Balearics, Ramon Socias, denied that the extra police were being deployed to respond to an increase in crime and shop lifting this festive season.