Durham Constabulary have some of the best burglary detection rates in the country, latest figures have revealed.

Statistics released by the Home Office last month show the success rate for the force for solving commercial burglaries at 14.7 per cent is the highest rate in the country and residential burglaries figures at 10.4 per cent are the second highest nationally.

Overall, a detection rate of 11.7 per cent for all burglary across the County Durham and Darlington puts the force in the top three of all 43 forces.

Whilst there is always more work to do, officers will continue to strive to solve as many as possible and carry out work which focusses on prevention as well.

Recent successes include:

  • A 17-year-old charged in relation to 12 burglaries across the Stanley, Chester-le-Street and Bishop Auckland areas in January. He is due to appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court later this month.
  • A 48-year-old man has been jailed for more than two years for three counts of burglary after officers caught him close to the scene of one of the incidents within 16 minutes of the emergency call being made.
  • A 41-year-old has been charged with burglary after a purse belonging to a woman in her 80s was stolen from her Ferryhill home.
  • A 42-year-old man sentenced to more than two years in prison for burglary of a Bishop Auckland property. Having been disturbed by the homeowner he was located nearby, along with the stolen property, by police.
  • A 20-year-old has been given a 12-month community order after breaking into his own mother’s home in Newton Aycliffe without her permission.

Detective Superintendent Lee Gosling, of Durham Constabulary, said: “Obviously even one unsolved burglary is too many.

“For the force to have one of the highest detection rates for burglary in the country is testament to the extensive and relentless work our officers are doing.

“However, we will always strive to improve on the work we are doing as we know the distress and disruption such incidents cause to the victim when their property is burgled.

“We ask everyone to help play their part in preventing crime and keeping ourselves safe from harm – whether it is by ensuring a property is locked, to keeping a light on in your home when you’re out.

“We want to make life as difficult as possible for these opportunist thieves. But the message is clear, if you commit a burglary in County Durham and Darlington you will be relentlessly pursued by our officers.”

As part of its focus on prevention, Durham Constabulary has accessed Safer Streets funding to improve home security for many residents in Darlington, Easington and Horden in the past two years.

It also runs Operation Trident which offers advice to residents on how to help keep their homes safe from burglars.

These tips can help keep your home safe this winter:

  • Lock all windows and doors – even if you’re at home.
  • A well-lit home gives the impression someone is in.
  • Leave a light on or use timer switches so lights come on when it gets dark.
  • Don’t leave valuables on show.
  • Don’t leave your house and vehicle keys in the lock or on a side table in view of a window, making it easy for a thief to fish them through your letterbox.
  • Don’t leave curtains closed during the day, only in the evening and overnight.
  • If you have a house alarm, use it.
  • Contact your local neighbourhood police team if you see anything suspicious in your area.