POLICE have thanked the Journal for helping in an awareness campaign to combat a spate of burglaries.

Officers in Leigh were concerned about the number of opportunist thefts from homes with windows left open and doors unlocked.

They have now reported a drop in the level of break-ins but warn that houses in Westleigh and south of Atherton are still being targeted by thieves.

A spokesman said the number of burglaries had "dropped considerably".