POLICE officers based at York Station will be patrolling trains along the East Coast mainline as part of a crackdown on thieves who steal luggage and valuables from passengers.

British Transport Police officers will also be targeting thieves at stations as part of Operation Pulse, which was launched yesterday.

Travellers will be advised on how to keep their belongings safe from criminals who "brazenly" snatch expensive smartphones from distracted passengers and steal luggage. Plain clothes patrols will take place along the East Coast mainline route.

Acting Sergeant Mark Mellenthin said: “Thefts on the rail network are very rarely opportunistic, they are committed by determined thieves whose sole intention is to steal from other passengers.

“We use a range of tactics to create a really difficult environment for criminals to operate within, including intelligence-led patrols by uniformed officers and plain-clothes officers.

"The excellent CCTV network on trains and at stations also helps us identify thieves who will be caught and dealt with, no matter where they are operating across Britain."

Police advise people to keep valuables hidden, check luggage regularly, keep bags safe under their arm and install tracker apps on their phones.