Merseyside burglary rates drop as police strategy yields results

Burglary reports in Merseyside are at their lowest since 2018 when the force established Operation Castle as part of a comprehensive strategy to tackle burglary.

Since Operation Castle began, the force has seen burglary rates fall by 56%, and by 16% in the last 12 months alone.

The Operation Castle team tackles series-linked burglaries and works alongside the teams of detectives that investigate crime across the five local authority areas in Merseyside.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Ball, who oversees these 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.

"This is why officers are sent to all reports of residential burglaries and Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) attendance is also requested. There are very few instances when an officer would not visit, for example, if the person reporting isn't engaging with officers, which can make arranging a visit difficult, or they have specifically requested that an officer doesn't attend. Nevertheless, we would still explore opportunities for CSI to recover forensic evidence.

“It’s this commitment to maximising every opportunity to gather evidence and identify offenders that has helped us arrest 612 suspects in connection with burglary offences in the past year. Many of these investigations are complex and involve cross-border collaboration with other police forces and agencies.”

The force's strategy involves the expertise of numerous teams who work closely on operations in burglary hotspots, proactive targeting of known offenders, and engagement with community partners to share intelligence and prevention advice.

Most recently, the force’s relentless pursuit of burglars has led to the successful conviction of four offenders with sentences given at Liverpool Crown Court amounting to over 20 years between them.

• Paul Alban, aged 38 years, of Cherry Tree Drive, St Helens, was sentenced on 3 March to 10 years for a burglary and an aggravated burglary in St Helens

• David Keating, aged 49 years, of Breckfield Road North, Liverpool, was sentenced on 20 March to two years and five months for a burglary in Formby

• Wade Walsh, aged 50 years, of Rudgrave Square, Wallasey, was sentenced on 24 March to three years for a burglary in Southport, with six other offences relating to burglary and theft also taken into consideration by the court

• Stephen Harold, aged 53 years, of Manor Road, Liscard, was sentenced on 31 March to four years and eight months for four burglaries in Wirral, with nine other offences also taken into consideration by the court

Detective Chief Inspector Ball added: "While we're pleased with these results, we remain committed to driving burglary down further. 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. We urge residents to take a few simple precautions and protect their homes from potential intruders.”

Follow these tips as a starting point to help protect your home:

• Ensure all doors and windows are locked, even when at home – particularly with the warmer weather and lighter nights. Many burglars gain entry through unsecured entry points, so it's vital to double-check they are properly secured before leaving home or going to bed.

• Keep valuables, keys and other tempting items out of view. Burglars often lookout for easy-to-reach items, so it's best to store these away from windows and doors.

• 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. Well-lit homes are less attractive targets, as thieves prefer to operate under the cover of darkness.

• Register valuable items through schemes like Immobilise, which can aid recovery if stolen. Residents are also advised to photograph and security-mark items that can't be registered.

More advice can be found on the force website at:https://www.merseyside.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/protect-home-crime/

The support of our communities is vital in helping us put offenders behind bars. If you discover video footage on your home security camera or smart doorbell that shows someone acting suspiciously on your property, you can upload it for the attention of the Operation Castle team here:https://unitedkingdom1cpp-portal.digital-policing.co.uk/merseyside/appeal/castle

You can share any other information you think is useful via our social media desk on X @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’.

You can also pass information via Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at:https://crimestoppers-uk.org

If you have been affected by crime, support is available through the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Victim Care Merseyside service. Call Freephone 0808 175 3080 or visithttps://victimcaremerseyside.org