THE number of people charged with handling stolen goods has risen by almost a third in Kidderminster division since the launch of the We Don't Buy Crime campaign.
The initiative, launched in May, and supported by the Shuttle/Times and News, targets people who buy stolen property.
The scheme is part of a bid to reduce the market for thieves to sell their ill-gotten gains.
Kidderminster Police spokeswoman Caroline Schubert said 21 people had been charged with handling stolen goods between April and September this year, compared to 16 people in the same period in 2001.
The campaign also aims to disrupt the flow of hard drugs as half of stolen property is sold so thieves can buy drugs such as heroin.
The maximum penalty for the crime is 14 years in prison, more than the potential 10 years for theft.
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