POLICE have urged the public to play their part in helping to reduce burglaries in the Sedgefield borough.

The number of houses being burgled has continued to fall since the launch of the borough-wide Operation Lancelot initiative in November.

Offences are down by more than 18 per cent and targeted operations have ensured an unprecedented house burglary detection rate.

Police are constantly monitoring the progress and have examined offences on a local authority ward basis.

The Thickley ward, in Shildon, and the Broom ward, in Ferryhill, are the main areas of concern.

Police crime prevention officer Neil Langthorne has been examining methods of entry and crime trends.

He found that more than half of the offences occurred during early evening, with two-thirds committed during the hours of darkness.

Four out of five of the crimes occurred at the rear of the home. PC Langthorne said he was disappointed to discover that a third of all offences occur at insecure premises and urged everyone to take responsibility.

He said: "There are examples of houses having been entered by both insecure front and rear doors as well as via open windows.

"This is presenting the opportunist criminal with an open invitation to enter and steal property, which has included cash, jewellery and even electrical equipment.

Detective Chief Inspector Colin Pearson said: "I am surprised at the number of residents who have left their premises open to intruders.

"We are trying so hard to combat this crime and are often being thwarted by public complacency."