POLICE are warning rowdy youths congregating at Howlbeck shops, in Guisborough, that they are being watched.
The move has come after police, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and other members of the area's Community Safety Partnership teamed up with Bells Stores to confront crime in the small shopping centre.
A police spokesman said the situation came to a head when 149 calls about anti-social behaviour were received by the force in a year.
As a result, £3,000-worth of security equipment was installed at Bells Stores, which contributed to the scheme, in order to monitor all the retail shops.
Chief superintendent Adrian Roberts said the scheme had been a success. He said: "I am really pleased to report that as a result of this scheme, calls to these shops for police assistance have reduced to just 29. This is an example of how the community safety partnership can make a difference."
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