Success for anti-burglary scheme

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A police initiative which resulted in house burglary rates falling by 83% in one area is likely to be expanded to other forces across England and Wales.

Cleveland Police based Operation Crystal on research that following a burglary, houses within a 200m radius were most likely to be targeted next.

Officers reacted to burglaries by alerting neighbouring householders, advising on how to secure their homes.

A 70% dip in criminal damage offences was also reported in the same period.

The latest Home Office statistics showed the overall burglary rate across the country fell 7% in the year to April.

'Lasting falls'

The success of Operation Crystal has seen Cleveland Police approached by other forces and local authorities.

Its initiative ran for a month from May 23 in the Mount Pleasant area of Stockton.

Officers spoke to over 300 residents, giving advice on how to make their properties more secure.

The force says research shows their tactic had not just moved the problem around, but has achieved lasting falls in crime.

The operation stemmed from findings by the Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science at University College London.

It showed that when a property is burgled other houses close by are more likely to be subject of a break-in during the following month.