Burglary rates hit all time low in the West Midlands, say police

Figures released by West Midlands Police show burglaries have decreased in Sandwell and Walsall by close to 15 per cent since last April compared to the same period 12 months ago.

But in Wolverhampton there has been an increase of 1.2 per cent, while Dudley break-ins have increased more than 15 per cent with 773 burglaries for the 2014/2015 period compared to 668 the previous year.

However, the force is hailing the new figures a success with an overall decrease of 10 per cent throughout the region - 942 fewer break-ins - which bosses say is down to officers tightening their grip on known offenders and protecting houses in crime 'hot spots'.

It continues a downward trend over the past decade that has seen burglary rates more than halved ? from 26,933 in 2002/2003 to 12,704 in 2013/2014.

Chief Inspector Alan Simmonds oversees Operation Illuminate, a project designed to tackle burglary in 'hot-spot' areas.

He said: "The cut in burglary rates can be attributed to strong offender management, working alongside probation, and an increase in the number of officers actively targeting known criminals and rigorously monitoring any who are subject to curfews or bail conditions.

"Under Op Illuminate we're keeping up pressure on thieves with a history of striking during dark winter evenings and also increasing patrols in parts of south Birmingham and Coventry where historically we've seen more vulnerable properties, like student accommodation, being targeted."

The increased activity is helping keep houses and possessions secure, he said, which included marking them and registering valuables like phones, tablets and laptops on Immobilise.com.

In Solihull, burglary is down 28 per cent with 221 fewer break-ins, and Birmingham has seen a fall of 7.7 per cent with 332 fewer burglaries.

Stourbridge ward councillor Mike Wood, who has been chosen as the Tory candidate for Dudley South, said: "People must be able to feel safe and secure in their own homes and know their property is not under threat.

"A burglary is not just about losing property, it is also about an invasion into victim's lives which can strongly impact people .

"It is great news that across the West Midlands the burglary rates are coming down. I look forward to working with local police to make sure the burglary rate in Dudley does come down, like it has in previous years."

The latest success in the region saw two men arrested in the early hours of Monday morning (Jan 19) on suspicion of breaking into a house in Redhill Gardens, Kings Norton, and taking an Audi A4 from the driveway.

Camera operators on-board the police helicopter kept tabs on the stolen car as it drove the wrong way down dual carriageways and around Paradise Circus before traffic police brought it to a stop at the junction of Pershore Road and Bournville Lane.

A 27-year-old man from Sparkhill ran from the car but was swiftly arrested from a nearby property, whilst a 35-year-old man was picked up by officers in Pineapple Road, Stirchley, having earlier jumped from the car.

Both men are in police custody on suspicion of burglary.

Sandwell councillor Mahboob Hussain paid tribute to the hard work of staff after figures in the borough dropped markedly.

He said: "I'm not surprised by those figures, we work very hard with the police and our local neighbourhood officers do a great job.

"We identify issues at a local level and deal with them as swiftly as possible.

"A lot of hard work is paying off.

"Early indications show our model is working. A lot of agencies are working together at a very difficult time when we're facing many cuts, not just from the police but from the local authority.

"It's a testament to the hard work of staff that numbers are coming down."