A FOUR-MAN police unit is notching up spectacular results in helping to track down burglars.

Yesterday, one of the officers described how, thanks to new co-ordinated policing, notable successes were being recorded.

PC Dave Nunn, the burglary support officer for the Darlington area, said: "By working closely together with CID, Scenes of Crime Officers (Socos) and victims, we are having a real impact on cases of house burglary."

The team of hand-picked officers was appointed to a pilot scheme last year and given extra training in crime scene management, forensic awareness, crime prevention and helping victims of burglaries.

The 12-month experiment has proved so successful that it has been made permanent.

PC Nunn gave a perfect example of how by working with other officers and acquiring detailed knowledge of every house break-in, the new policing is making a difference.

Helping investigate a large number of burglaries in the West End of Darlington, PC Nunn noticed a recurring unusual footwear print.

During the inquiries, a man answering bail conditions arrived at Darlington Police Station, and PC Nunn saw he was wearing the same unusual footwear.

This led to a search of the man's home, where PC Nunn found a silver serving spoon he recognised as one of a set from one of the recently burgled homes.

It led to the man being convicted of 49 burglaries and receiving a five-year prison sentence.

PC Nunn said working closely with victims was also producing vital information, as well as restoring the confidence of those devastated by burglaries.

He said: "We do not just visit the scenes of the crimes, we return with follow-up meetings with the victims, and it is amazing how much more information then emerges."

Victims of break-ins are also kept in close touch with how detection work is proceeding, and are informed of arrests and the dates and results of court cases.

There is also a repeat victim strategy in place, where action is stepped up considerably after a second break-in. After a third, a detective inspector becomes involved and consideration is given to the installation of alarms and cameras.

The results speak for themselves. In Darlington in the past year, house burglaries have fallen by 24 per cent and detection rates have risen by 13 per cent.