EXTRA patrols by police in the aftermath of a frightening street robbery in Ilkley will not only reassure the public, but hopefully deter any criminals in the area too.

The recent late-night robbery of a shop in Ilkley was already a worry to local residents and the theft this week of large lead pipes from the outside of the Manor House is another sad example of criminals at work in the local area.

Although we are often reassured that crime in Ilkley is comparatively low - and looking at figures for other areas, Ilkley does compare favourably - any examples of violent crime cause a shockwave in the community.

Additional patrols will hopefully go some way towards making members of the community feel more secure out and about in these dark winter evenings, aware that police officers are highly visible and likely to be close by.

A rise in crime in winter is not unusual, as crime prevention officers far and wide are keen to point out, which is why they work hard on encouraging people to check their home security and keep their homes lit, even when not at home.

Another benefit of having these reassurance patrols taking place, of course, is that the police presence on the streets will also be spotted by would-be criminals, who may simply decide there is just too much risk of being caught, and give up on ideas of stealing from this area.