Burglaries cut by half after seven arrests (From Southend Standard)

Burglaries cut by half after seven arrests

10:00am Monday 8th February 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(3)

HOUSE burglaries have plummetted in Castle Point after police arrested seven suspects.

Chief Inspector Keith Davies said the number of house burglaries almost halved during January, compared to the same month in 2009.

There were 25 committed between January 1 and February 3, compared to 54 during the same period the previous year.

Mr Davies said they had driven down burglaries since December, when 68 were committed at homes and commercial premises.

He added: “It’s 25 more than I’d prefer to have, but nevertheless it’s a significant improvement and it’s a result of all the activity, because we have locked up a lot of people.

“We will continue to drive it down even lower and we are running proactive operations in Benfleet and Canvey.”

There were at least seven suspects arrested in December alone, and Basildon Crown Court is due to hear trials this month.

Nicholas Shepherd, of Thorney Bay Caravan Park, Canvey, was charged with two counts of handling stolen goods.

The 30-year-old pleaded guilty to handling jewellery and electrical goods which had been stolen.

He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on February 15.

Mr Davies says police will continue to tackle the problem by carrying out patrols in hotspot areas.

He added: “We’ve got high visibility patrols, education regarding crime prevention, interaction with pawnbrokers and Cash Converter type shops.

“But things have changed quite a bit since the bad spell in December.”

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(3)