A SCHEME to help the victims of burglary on Teesside has received a major boost after receiving Government cash.

Tees Valley Partnership has established a scheme called Safe in Tees Valley and has been awarded a £26,000 Home Office grant.

Under the programme, when more than one burglary is recorded, the victims are contacted with advice to try and stop it happening again.

The money will also help set up a scheme to look at daily crime reports and analyse why crimes occur, taking into consideration the person, the property, the time and the area. It is hoped the research will establish patterns which may help the police.

John Bentley, programme director of the Safe in Tees Valley project, said: "This is all about the victim, finding out who is at risk and applying science to prevent it happening again. We provide practical assistance, advising on lights, alarms and locks to try and concentrate our resources where they can do most good."

Statistics show that if you have been burgled once, you are about 30 per cent more likely to be burgled again. Research also shows that a person is most likely to become a repeat victim within six weeks of the first offence.