TWO of the region's police forces have been named among the best in the country at tackling distraction burglaries, while figures showed a third failed solve any.

Northumbria Police had the highest detection rate of 49 per cent - with 22 cases solved out of 45 reported, according to Operation Liberal, a national study of distraction burglary, in which criminals con their way into people's homes to steal, often pretending to be representatives of utility companies.

North Yorkshire Police came fourth in the study, which looked at incidents between April last year and March, with a detection rate of 39 per cent.

Cleveland Police had a detection rate of 27 per cent - six successful prosecutions from 22 reports.

But the figures show that Durham Police failed to solve any of the 21 complaints it received.

A North Yorkshire Police investigation led to the sentencing, in February, of three distraction burglars at Newcastle Crown Court.

Miles and Patrick Connors, from Middlesex, were given nine and seven prison sentences respectively, after admitting conspiracy to burgle and burglary.

James Hanrahan, 39, was handed a five year sentence after admitting burglary.

Their sentences followed a nationwide investigation, led by North Yorkshire Police, into a series of distraction burglaries in various locations.

Victims of distraction burglary are usually elderly.

Detective Chief Superintendent Karnail Dulku (CORR), head of the crime directorate at North Yorkshire Police, welcomed the Operation Liberal report, but said there would be no let up in the fight against distraction burglary.

He said: "These results demonstrate that distraction burglars are more likely to be arrested and prosecuted if they commit their crimes in North Yorkshire Police."

A spokesman for Durham Police said the force worked closely with the neighbouring Cleveland and Northumbria forces to target doorstep criminals, in a project known as Operation Bombay.

He said: "These offences are often carried out by criminals who are on the move, targeting one area after another across the region.

"This is one of the reasons it remains a crime which can be difficult to detect, as the national figures suggest.

"But we believe significant inroads are being made and hope the number of offences will continue to fall."