YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Youngstown officials are making changes to crack down on crimes at local stores during the holiday season.

During a news conference held Wednesday, Mayor Tito Brown and Youngstown Police Chief Carl Davis detailed their plan to make holiday shopping safer across the city.

The plan includes more officers on patrol and in stores across the Youngstown area.

Chief Davis said officers will be making extra checks on businesses throughout the city. The checks will be occurring every day throughout December by uniformed and plainclothes officers.

The move to have frequent check-ins with businesses comes after a recent spike in thefts at stores across the city.

Officials say they want the extra patrols to be made known so thieves won't feel the itch to steal.