Police make 18 arrests in an operation to crackdown on burglary....

Police have so far made 18 arrests yesterday morning (Thursday, 13 November) after carrying out warrants at 25 addresses across Merseyside.

The early morning raids are part of Merseyside Police’s three-month long operation that launched in September, to tackle an anticipated rise in the number of burglaries.

The 18 people have been arrested for various offences including burglary, robbery and possession of drugs and two cannabis farms have been uncovered in Sefton and Liverpool North.

Leading the operation, Superintendent Chris Markey said: "Today’s activity is all about going after those we believe to be committing burglary offences. It also sends a clear message to those individuals intent on committing this offence that there is no hiding place and that we will use all the tools available to us to track them down and bring them to justice.

While burglaries are down year-on-year by 14 per cent, police in Merseyside do see these numbers rise by as much as 25 per cent during the winter-month.

"Although we have seen a slight decrease in the number of burglaries, it continues to be a challenging time for us. However, it’s not just about disrupting the activities of these offenders and preventing them from going about their daily business. We have also stepped up patrols in hotspot areas and are working hard to provide home owners with advice on how to keep their property safe. Many burglaries are preventable by simply locking doors and shutting window,” said Chris Markey.

One in five burglaries is down to insecurities and burglars will always take the easy option. It only takes minutes for them to get in through an open window or door. Police advice is to lock front and back doors and use an alarm, if you have one. Light timers are also an effective tool to give the impression that someone is at home.

Anyone who has information about crime in their area can call police on 101 or speak to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.