Burglaries in Merseyside hit a seven-year low thanks to police crackdown.
In 2018, Merseyside Police started a strategic campaign to tackle burglaries.
A dedicated team, called Operation Castle, began investigating series-linked burglaries and working alongside detectives across the five local authority areas in Merseyside.
The campaign has been a great success with burglary reports now at their lowest since Operation Castle commenced.
In the last year, 612 suspects have been arrested in connection with burglary offences across Liverpool.
Detective Chief Inspector Steve Ball, who oversees the burglary investigations in Merseyside, said: “We have long made combating burglary a key priority because we understand how deeply invasive this crime is.
“Having someone enter your home and violate your personal space can be incredibly distressing for victims.
“Our message to would-be burglars is clear – our dedicated teams will use every tool at their disposal to ensure you are caught and put before the courts.
“Every burglary prevented means one less victim having to deal with the emotional and financial aftermath of this crime.
The force’s strategy involves the expertise of numerous teams who work closely on operations in burglary hotspots and proactive targeting of known offenders.
The city centre is Merseyside’s main hotspot, with residents reporting an average of five burglaries a week.
Riverside closely follows with four cases reported weekly, according to ADT security company.
While police are keen to keep reducing break-ins, there are steps that residents can take to further protect their homes:
- Ensure all doors and windows are locked, even when at home.
- Keep valuables, keys and other tempting items out of view.
- If you own a vehicle that uses keyless locks, ensure you keep the fob in a Faraday bag or shielded container.
- Install motion-activated security lighting around the property.
- Register valuable items through schemes like Immobilise, which can aid recovery if stolen.
During 2024, England & Wales’ police forces received 238,893 crime reports about burglary.
This is a decrease of 4.8% from 2023’s figure of 250,823 reports.
Merseyside residents who have been subject to burglaries can contact Victim Care Merseyside, the Police and Crime Commissioner’s (PCC) dedicated service providing free, confidential support for all victims of crime.
The hub work closely with the 10 other specialist, independent support services commissioned by the PCC to ensure victims of crime receive support tailored to their individual needs.
Residents can contact Victim Care Merseyside for help, even if they have not reported the burglary.
If you have been a victim of crime in Merseyside, call Freephone 0808 175 3080 for advice and support on weekdays between 8am and 6pm, or visit https://www.victimcaremerseyside.org/
