BURGLARY victims who try to cash in by making false insurance claims are being investigated by police.

The crackdown also includes "ghost" burglaries when no crime has been committed.

People who make bogus and fraudulent insurance claims following burglaries could face prosecution, police have warned.

The bogus claims have come to light as a result of officers in the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale areas revisiting burgled addresses as part of Operation Fortress.

They have found that some householders have made insurance claims for items that were not stolen at all.

In one case a mountain bike valued at £200 reported stolen from a shed was found in the kitchen. Video recorders and other property reported from houses have been uncovered in outhouses or sheds.

Det Insp Simon Leach said: "We are talking about 15-20 cases, only a small percentage of investigations since May 17 when the operation was launched."

Det Sgt Peter Simm said: "We are very concerned that people are prepared to make fraudulent claims, not least because they are themselves committing a criminal offence." Officers have also found a number of crimes reported to the police had never happened.

Items reported stolen may have been hidden or may not have existed in the first place.

"Many people think that claiming money of their insurance is a victimless crime and that they are hurting anyone," said DS Simm.

"But we all suffer the knock-on effects of their criminal actions by having to pay a higher premiums," he added. People who exaggerate claims by including property not stolen may find they are not paid out at all.

Information uncovered is being passed on to the relevant insurance companies and offenders could now face prosecution for deception offences.

John Wagstaff, Association of British Insurers anti-fraud manager, commented: "We welcome this initiative.

"Insurance companies will not hesitate to report such cases to the police."

As part of Operation Fortress, a year-long campaign against crime in the Pennine Division, a dedicated team of officers will continue to revisit victims of burglary.