Burglaries down across Essex

Burglaries are down in Essex as we continue to ensure you're safe, and feel safe, in your homes.

Across the county there were nearly 370 fewer burglaries in the last year, with nearly 120 fewer home burglaries. In the last five years we've seen 40 percent fewer break-ins at home.

We've been able to achieve this by carrying out prevention patrols focussing on hotspot locations, as well as visiting homes and businesses to provide crime prevention advice.

As part of the force’s approach, we regularly review where we are seeing hotspots, linked offences or repeat victims and where we see repeat suspects or have known burglary offenders wanted for other matters.

The figures come just a week after we revealed we've made more than 1,500 burglary arrests in the last and are attending more than 99 percent of home break-ins.

Superintendent Tim Tubbs, Essex Police’s lead on burglary, said the force is committed to attending your home if it’s targeted:

“Burglary is a really invasive crime and we know how unsettling and upsetting it is for someone to come into your private space.
“That’s why we’re committed to attend home burglaries and carry out all reasonable lines of enquiry.
“In October we went to 99.6 percent of all home break-ins and we’ve been to 99.3 percent in the last six months.
“Our work has led to more than 1500 arrests in the last 12 months in connection with residential burglaries and we are committed to continuing to improve our solved rates across the county.
“During this one week of intensified action last month we made 73 arrests alone.
“However, we’re not complacent and we know there is more we can do.”

Supt Tubbs added that there are things the public can do to reduce the chance of becoming a victim of burglary:

“I would emphasise that, despite the figures showing a promising trend and our own focus on driving this crime down, the biggest deterrent remains self-assessment in the home.
“That means locking doors and windows and leaving car keys well away from plain sight through windows.
“Consider maintaining fences and cutting back hedges so that no one can hide behind or jump over.
“And using external lighting so there is nowhere for a burglar to hide, but also, make your home occupied when you’re out by using a timer switch on a lamp.”

Advice on how to stay safe and protect your home, yourself, your business and your vehicles from crime.

You can also find out more general information about crime, the law and staying safe on our advice and information pages.

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