BURGLARS and those who handle stolen goods are being targeted by a series of police operations in a town.

Operation Tulip was the latest in a line of crackdowns on house burglaries in Hartlepool.

Four people were arrested when the two-day operation started, on Wednesday, and more are expected to be charged as the police use DNA and forensic testing to track down burglars.

The operation involved officers from CID, community policing teams, intelligence officers, the district support unit and the newly formed street crime unit.

Operation Tulip follows on from Operation Daffodil, which took place last month, to target burglars and thieves.

That operation resulted in ten people being arrested. Seven were charged and three were released on bail pending further inquires.

Detective Inspector Lynne Richardson, in charge of the operation, said: "Further operations and arrests are planned for the near future.

"It is already proving to be a success and there has already been a reduction in house burglaries in Hartlepool, over the past two weeks.

"We will continue to vigorously pursue all criminals who commit crime in this town."

In a separate operation in the Cemetery South area of Hartlepool on Wednesday, six people were arrested for drugs offences.

Raids were carried out, and a small quantity of crack cocaine, heroin and cash was recovered.

Det Insp Richardson said: "This operation was part of a much bigger project we have planned for Cemetery South, and the first of many which will be carried out in the area over the coming year."

In another attempt to tackle crime, the Cemetery South area has received £63,000 from the Government's Crime Reduction Programme.

The money will be spent on crime prevention measures, such as alley gates and security lighting, and a tenant enforcement officer will be employed to work with private landlords to control the behaviour of tenants.

A similar project in the Belle Vue area of the town, in 1999 and last year, reduced house burglary by 21 per cent.

l A 26-year-old man from Hartlepool was charged with three offences following the first day of Operation Tulip, a 22-year-old from the town was released on bail pending further inquires, and a 22-year-old and a 19-year-old were charged with burglary and theft.