THE number of burglaries in Sedgefield borough has risen for the first time in several years, according to the latest figures.

Statistics for April to September this year show there were 205 burglaries in the borough, compared to 172 for the same period last year and 181 the year before.

PC Neil Langthorne, crime prevention officer for Sedgefield police, reported the figures at the latest Burglary Action Group meeting.

He said the figures, which represented a rise of almost 20 per cent, were mainly due to a "blip" in May when there were 50 offences.

Most of the offences were sneak-in burglaries carried out by opportunist thieves who entered through unlocked doors or windows during hot days.

Newton Aycliffe, where burglaries are continuing to fall, remains a success story, but all other areas, including Shildon, Spennymoor and Ferryhill, experienced a rise.

PC Langthorne said: "When we go round to public meetings and Neighbourhood Watch meetings, this is usually one thing we can talk about with a degree of confidence because in Sedgefield borough the figures have reduced dramatically year on year.

"But for the last couple of years we've been wondering if we had bottomed out and burglaries have gone up this year."

Officers are hoping the launch of Operation Darc, Durham Constabulary's biggest campaign against burglaries, will help reverse the situation.

The initiative is similar to Operation Lancelot, which has been running successfully in Sedgefield over the past few years.

The operation, which runs until the end of December, has been introduced to coincide with the seasonal rise in break-ins which traditionally happens during the long winter months.

All of the force's resources have been brought together in a concentrated effort to arrest offenders, provide crime prevention advice and try to reduce crime levels.

PC Langthorne said: "These are the three months of the year when crime usually takes off."

Sedgefield's crime prevention team will make cut-price timers and energy-efficient light bulbs, available to households later this month.