THE public is being urged to join a campaign to protect post offices from thieves.

Yesterday, Durham Police launched Operation Sayan, aimed at protecting the 39 post offices in the Chester-le-Street and Durham divisions.

It involves both uniformed and plain-clothed officers, traffic police and the police helicopter.

The operation was devised to combat a traditional rise in the number of post office robberies between December and February, of which there were two last year.

Detectives are hoping their efforts to crack down on the seasonal crooks will be boosted by the public's help, and are asking people to alert them if they see anything suspicious.

As part of the campaign, leaflets appealing for public support have been delivered to homes and posters displayed in post offices.

Detective Sergeant Eric Malkin, of Durham City police, said: "This operation is designed to raise public awareness of post office robberies and burglaries and let them know how they can help us prevent these crimes occurring.

"We would urge them to keep their eyes and ears open, and let us know if they see or hear anything suspicious regarding post office security.

"Intelligence suggests a planned raid on a Durham post office has been scuppered this week."

Det Sgt Malkin said officers were making a big effort to prevent post office crime.

"From a police point of view, we are as prepared as we can be," he said.

"Local officers, supported by colleagues from traffic divisions, will be involved in more patrols at strategic times, and aircraft from the air support unit will periodically scan post office sites using heat-seeking equipment to detect people on the ground.

"With all these measures in place, we are in a much better position to react should anyone commit this type of crime."

The operation is running alongside Bullseye, a force-wide pre-Christmas crackdown on known criminals involving hundreds of front-line officers, CID specialists and traffic police.

Anyone with information on post office crime is asked to call Durham City police on 0191-386 4222, Chester-le-Street police on 0191-388 4311, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.