POLICE are appealing to householders to help them in the fight against opportunist crime, after a spate of petty thefts in the Durham area.

Streets and areas around Durham University’s "hill colleges", on the city’s South Road, were repeatedly targeted over the weekend, with 12 pedal bikes stolen.

Some of the bicycles were chained up but others were left completely unsecured.

Meanwhile, on Wantage Road, in Carrville, a radiator was stolen after a householder left it lying in the garden while he did some DIY. The incident happened between 5pm on Sunday and 7am on Monday.

Neighbourhood Inspector Paul Anderson said: "I would ask people to help us help them, by securing their property as securely as possible: put it away or secure it.

"Don’t give anybody an opportunity to take anything.

"Secure it as best possible. One or two of the bikes were taken from bike racks but others were just left lying around.

"I would ask students in particular to make sure their property is secure and left in secure locations."

Police are using car registration plate recognition technology to identify suspicious vehicles and are targeting known offenders in the Durham City area.

Top officers are privately frustrated that petty thefts have continued in the city, despite the success of Operation Porterspass, launched to stop burglaries of student digs.

The campaign has produced a 24.7 per cent year-on-year drop in domestic burglaries.

A number of arrests have been made and convictions secured.

Last month, a serial burglar of student digs was jailed for three years at Durham Crown Court.

There has also been success in the fight against anti-social behaviour on and around North Road, previously a hotspot for late-night drunkenness and violence.

Insp Anderson said: "This type of opportunist crime is the biggest problem at the minute. It’s people leaving property in gardens or not tied up.

"We are making every possible effort to try to stop this crime."

Anyone with information about any of the incidents or any other crime can call Durham Police on 0345-60-60-365 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.