POLICE have stepped up their fight against burglars, launching education and covert surveillance operations.
Undercover officers have been working to catch burglars in an extension of an operation to stop criminals targeting university students in Durham City.
Car registration plate recognition technology is also being used to identify suspicious vehicles.
Meanwhile, police officers, wardens and fire officers have been handing out crime prevention packs and movement sensor alarms for windows.
The latest initiatives are part of national Not in my Neighbourhood week, and were launched in Gilesgate.
Inspector Paul Anderson said: “We want to provide reassurance to the community in and around Durham. More often than not, burglaries occur when people leave their doors or windows open or unsecure, and simple measures would stop it.”
The sensor alarms were bought with £750 from the county council.
* Pictured with Mayor Southwell are police Inspector Paul Anderson, front right, with Dane Rollo, from the fire brigade, crime prevention officer Tim Thompson, safer neighbourhood co-ordinator Keith Davis, warden Belinda Snow, police officer Ben Kinnair and warden Gemma Charlton.
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