ABOUT 6,000 homes in the borough of Sedgefield have been given security advice since the Sedgefield Burglary Action Group launched Operation Lancelot four weeks ago.

Police awareness leaflets have been delivered to homes as part of an anti-burglary initiative, which will run throughout the winter.

The leaflets have been followed up by more than 460 Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators raising the awareness of members in the schemes.

Detectives have concentrated on detecting house burglaries and arresting those responsible. This is already having an impact.

The enforcement side of the operation has resulted in the arrest of three burglars responsible for more than 20 house burglaries.

Detective Chief Inspector Colin Pearson, who is leading the operation, said: "There are a number of intelligence-led operations planned and those who commit dwelling burglary should be looking over their shoulders."

Forensic evidence is also playing a significant part in the fight against crime, with crime scene investigators attending all scenes, with advanced techniques in DNA identification also contributing to their successes.

Innovative methods of scientific investigation, together with a priority approach to analysing forensic evidence, are speeding up the crime detection process.

Compared with the same period last year, to date the initiative has celebrated a 24 per cent reduction in house burglary.