Harborne

Shoplifting and business crime on Harborne High Street and the surrounding roads.

We are continuing to identify key nominals known to be committing offences in this area. We have linked in with Birmingham's licencing department and have joint visits planned in the coming weeks to a couple of stores where we would like some further help and support.

We are still actively collaborating with our partners and local businesses in the high street area to prevent shoplifting. This effort involves working closely with security personnel and shop employees, conducting targeted patrols by our local officers, and providing crime reduction advice and support. Additionally, we have a local Business Watch scheme in place, in partnership with our Business Improvement District (BID) colleagues.

If you have any information that could support us in reducing these offences please let us know.

Issues related to anti-social behaviour and prostitution. This issue is going to be extended as local community are saying it is continuing.

We are aware that this remains a concern for the local community. We are still working with local partners in this area. We are continuing to visit identified properties alongside our partners in the exempt accommodation team in Birmingham city council (BCC) housing department. These are properties where we believe issues are occurring or people from those properties are causing criminality. Issues identified are being led on by the exempt accommodation team. We have also liaised with the community safety officers from BCC as well to advise them of the issues and asked them to attend when they can.

Prostitution remains a significant concern for us and the local community, so our focus remains in this area. We have implemented a dedicated patrol plan to ensure officers are present in the area at optimal times. Additionally, we continue to work with local businesses to share information and intelligence aimed at deterring offences. As part of a long-term solution, we are also working with the Birmingham City Council outreach team to provide support and guidance to those in need..

Vehicle crime

Car crime in the area (theft from motor vehicle and theft of motor vehicle) is one of the teams priorities. We have seen a fairly steady decline since a high in May 2025 - but it is still more than we want.
We have liaised with the community safety officers from BCC to advise them of the issues and asked them to be in the area when they can. We have been working with our vehicle crime team to identify key nominals and have had officers actively pursuing those nominals. The offences of car cannabilism (removal of bumpers/bonnets/lights and wing mirrors) in the area have lowered in the last month - but work is ongoing to target harden those vehicles most affected to prevent this offence occurring in the first place.

Traditionally, car crime involved offenders breaking into vehicles to steal valuables such as mobile phones, sat navs, bags, and tools. However, we are now seeing an increase in car cannibalisation offences, where vehicles are stripped for parts while parked, rather than being stolen and driven away.

Our dedicated patrol plan for addressing anti-social behaviour and prostitution in the area also covers this issue. Prevention is a key focus of our efforts and we are working with the Design Out Crime team to make it more difficult for opportunist offenders, and we partner with local businesses to raise awareness among customers. Additionally, we have been reminding local residents to remove valuables from their vehicles.