Post offices across East Anglia have been urged to take security measures in a bid to cut the number of robberies across the region. Norfolk police issued the advice to sub-post offices as part of Operation Arctic, an initiative to combat robberies.

Post offices across East Anglia have been urged to take security measures in a bid to cut the number of robberies across the region.

Norfolk police issued the advice to sub-post offices as part of Operation Arctic, an initiative to combat robberies.

It comes after a group of seven men were convicted at Ipswich Crown Court last month following a joint investigation between Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex police into up to 60 post office robberies, ATM thefts and ram-raids across East Anglia. All remain in custody pending their sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court.

Officers pledged to continue working hard to reduce the number of offences and to advise post office staff on what measures they could take to reduce the risk of robbery and what to do should they become victims.

Norfolk's crime reduction co-ordinator, Sgt Andy Usher, said: "It's important to make clear that this type of robbery is extremely rare.

"Despite the recent success of several people being convicted of robbery and related offences, we cannot afford to be complacent and it is essential that we continue to raise awareness to reduce the risk of this type of crime occurring.

"Criminals who commit these offences normally plan visits to the premises some days or weeks prior to carrying out an attack.

He said post office robberies tended to occur during the winter months after the clocks went back and usually took place at the end of the afternoon, after it got dark.

Anyone seeing anybody suspicious should write down their description, the colour and registration details of any suspected vehicles and call 999.