Shocking truth about break-ins amid ‘rush burglaries’ warning
Only one in 13 burglaries in the West Midlands results in a prosecution – as police admit ‘concern’ over ‘a low clear-up rate’.
Figures show that out of 19,523 domestic burglaries last year, police made 2,266 arrests but prosecutions were brought against just 1,530 offenders.
Officers attended only two thirds of residential break-ins.
Now, police are also warning about ‘rush burglaries’ where homeowners are overpowered by masked robbers.
West Midlands Police Deputy Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe said: “Burglary is an operational priority for us.
“We are obviously concerned that we may have a low clear-up rate this year from last year. It is something which is a significant focus for us and priority for our teams.”
Express & Star comment: We want action on burglaries
DCC Rolfe also revealed officers attended just two thirds of residential burglaries, which included garages and sheds break-ins from last April.
The response call-out percentage was down from 85 per cent the year before.
She said: “Whilst our policy is we will attend every dwelling, house burglary, it is not necessarily our policy that we would attend every shed burglary.
“We would if we identified there was an opportunity for forensics or for us to make some enquiries at the scene, but many of those offences would not result in police attendance – that does not mean they are not investigated.”
Force bosses, speaking at a West Midlands Strategic Crime and Policing Board meeting, also said there had been a rise in ‘rush burglaries’. Two weeks ago, 38-year-old Sarbjit Kaur was murdered in her home in Goldthorn Hill in Wolverhampton in a suspected burglary.
Superintendent Ian Parnell said: “One of the emerging threats are rush type offences where we have individuals wearing masks and often carrying weapons that will force their way into an address and target cash or jewellery.”
He said the gangs often targeted Asian victims. Both Deputy Chief Constable Rolfe and Supt Parnell told Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson that operations and plans were in place to bring down the number of ‘rush burglaries’, as well as wider burglaries.
Mr Jamieson said: “Crime is going up and funding for police forces has fallen.
“We’ve seen a huge rise in vehicle thefts and other serious crimes like burglary. I am driving efficiencies and keep officers on the street where people want them, but ultimately West Midlands Police still has fewer resources to fight crime than it did previously.
“Officers are targeting prolific offenders and organised criminal gangs who cause the most misery.”
