Increase in thefts from Burnley homes (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Increase in thefts from Burnley homes

10:00am Saturday 9th February 2013 in News

THE NUMBER of thefts from homes in Burnley rose by more than 50 per cent last year, according to the town’s community safety partnership.

A rise in thefts of metal, copper piping and boilers from rented accommodation saw the number of incidents for the six months from April to September rocket from 67 in 2011 to 102 last year.

Vehicle theft also increased, up 64 per cent on the previous year, with almost a third of those cases involving number plates being stolen.

A Lancashire police spokesperson said a number of thefts from dwellings could be attributed to friends or family of the occupants stealing property during parties.

Detective Inspector Vinny De Curtis said the force was heading in the right direction in its approach to tackling theft.

He said: “A number of initiatives continue to be conducted to tackle these crimes, such as Operation Tornado for metal theft and Operation Pathway, which targets travelling criminals who make use of the roads to commit crime.

“I’d continue to appeal to car owners lock up their vehicles and not to leave any property on display. Even loose change or empty cigarette packets left on view can make their vehicles more attractive to thieves.

“Officers have seen a rise in thieves targeting unlocked vehicles in the borough and criminals are helping themselves to items left on display. Criminals will steal sat-navs, loose change, CDs, bags or anything that is left lying around.

“These crimes tend to happen overnight when no-one is around. We need to know at the time, so if people do see anything suspicious they should report it."

Overall, a total of 4,137 crimes were committed in the town between April and September 2012, up 0.5 per cent on the same period the previous year.

Reports of anti-social behaviour fell by 30 per cent from 5,031 to 3,518.