IT is a Valentine's card designed to make your heart skip a beat... if you are a criminal.

Police Scotland's latest crackdown on crime has seen known thieves targeted by cops carrying a special message.

Around two dozen known criminals who have carried out housebreakings in Govanhill were gifted a personal February 14 message.

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Along with a visit from police, potential thieves were given a card reading: "Glasgow South East Police would like to wish all active housebreakers a Happy Valentine's Day and would like to offer you a date in court."

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The move is part of Operation Kapal, a two-week major operation to tackle the high levels of housebreaking in the South Side area.

Sergeant Cennydd Smith of Gorbals Police Office, who is leading the crackdown, said: "We developed the cards as a way of targetting people who we know in the past have been involved in housebreaking.

"The idea comes from what we've done with previous projects, which is visited previous offenders to let them know what we're doing in the community at that time and to warn them that the chances are they will be caught if they continue their offending behaviour.

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"With the project running over Valentine's Day we devised the postcard to be a Valentine's card to offenders warning them they will have a day in court and the their side is a public reassurance message asking people to contact the police with any information they may have."

As well as hand-delivering the cards, officers have also placed a selection - in various languages - in community hubs around Govanhill, such as the local library and cafes.

Mr Smith added: "We have delivered between 15 and 25 to specific people in the South Side, people who we know have previously offended in Govanhill but who might not reside here.

"It helps to get the message through that just because the criminal justice system is finished with them doesn't mean they are free to go offending again.

"It lets them know we are still watching, we know who they are and the chances are increased that they are going to get caught if they do commit crime."

As told last week in the Glasgow Times, Operation Kapal will see officers target houses in certain streets in the area to give residents DNA kits that will mark their property with a unique code to protect it from theft.

 

The same scheme carried out in an area of England saw break-ins dramatically reduced.

Over the past week there has been a dramatic increase in police on streets as officers working with translators make sure the kits are distributed.

The Glasgow Times joined PC Stuart Jamieson and PC Stuart White as they visited a property in the area to help local resident Wilma Logan.

Mrs Logan, who owned a florists on Victoria Road until recently and who has lived in Govanhill for 17 years, had the DNA kit explained to her by the two PCs.

SelectaDNA is a type of vegan-friendly glue laced with microscopic barcodes called microdots that are unique to each bottle.

It is used to mark property, such as tablets, mobile phones or laptops, and then the number is recorded in a database so the items can be easily traced back to their owner.

The glue shows up under fluorescent light and a microscope is used to see the numbers on the microdots.

Police officers are helping residents mark their property and then register the barcode in order to make sure the kits are used.

Mrs Logan said: "It's prevention so it might put somebody off.

"You can replace goods but you can't replace things that have sentimental value so, for me, I'm going to be attacking it with gusto busy putting this on things that have meaning to me.

"I think it is a good idea and it is very foolish not to take part, if you get the chance.

"I never feel threatened where I am in Govanhill. When I lived on Allison Street there was an issue with fighting but it was generally fine."

Part-funded by cash from the Southside Central Area Partnership, the SelectaDNA will be given out to hundreds of homes in Govanhill.

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Operation Kapal will also see officers visit licensed premises, pawnshops and second-hand dealers to explain where SelectaDNA will be used.

Police also plan pro-active work to recover any stolen property that comes to light during the operation with warrants being executed.

And youth diversionary officers will be out on the streets too.

Mr Smith said: "We have spent day shifts and back shifts this week going door to door at what we see as the most vulnerable closes and we had a good response from the people inside.

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"People are really liking that we've come round and can see the real benefits from the engagement, the kits and the project.

"So far not had anyone refuse it. It feels like the whole community wants to get involved in this."

On Tuesday, February 25 there will be a day of action where officers will target people they believe are involved in housebreaking or who have previously been involved in housebreaking with warrants.

They will also be visiting second hand shops to identify any potential stolen property.

The community has speakers of 63 different languages so police have asked Govanhill Housing Association for support with translators.

And videos are being shared on social media for those who do not read English.