POLICE are turning to the world's oldest surveillance device - the human eye - in their bid to cut thefts of security cameras.

Darwen police say between 30 and 40 cameras have been stolen in the area since January, and estimate the total value of goods taken to be up to £20,000.

Now they are appealing for the public to use their eyes to help stop cameras going missing.

In the latest incident, a camera was stolen from a house in Quaker Lane, Darwen.

Sgt Rob Campbell of Darwen CID said: "The cameras that are being taken are in prominent places such as near road junctions. We are appealing to the public to call us if they see anything suspicious, and reminding people to secure the cameras themselves. "The cameras can usually only be stolen using ladders, and possibly vehicles. If the public see people behaving suspiciously, especially at night, with ladders, they should call the police."

Recommended sezcurity measures for camera owners include:

Moving ladders or anything that could be used by thieves to get on to the roof

Fitting barbed wire

Fitting anti-climb paint

Encasing expensive equipment in steel cages.

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