Police swooping on thieves on beaches

Plain clothes police officers are keeping watch over the island’s beaches following a spate of thefts from unsuspecting bathers island wide.

Complaints of being pickpocketed on the beach are now a daily phenomenon, police spokesman Christos Andreou told CyBC’s morning radio on Tuesday.

The increased surveillance by police has brought results with several perpetrators of thieves having been arrested and brought to justice in recent days, Andreou said.

Famagusta beaches, Ayia Napa and Protaras, as well as Finikoudes beach in Larnaca, appear to have been particularly targeted.

Police have called on bathers to take precautions and avoid carrying valuables on beaches or leaving them unattended.