HUNDREDS of homes in Redcar have put the spotlight on burglars in a ground-breaking initiative.

Specialist property marking kits have been sent out to 1,000 households and all the valuables registered will be logged on to a computer database accessible to police.

In addition, 130 homes in the Kirkleatham and Coatham wards which have suffered a break-in over the past 18 months have been fitted with alarms and security lights to cover both the front and back of their properties.

Crown Security of Guisborough has carried out the work and officers from Cleveland Police have visited each house to offer further security advice.

The initiative has been funded by the Redcar and Cleveland Burglary Reduction Task Group, along with the West Redcar Single Regeneration Budget Programme.

Even though the number of burglaries in the borough has been reduced from more than 5,000 in 1996 to just over 1,000 last year, the scheme was specially fast-tracked so that it could be developed and delivered in just three months.

Chief Superintendent John Kelly, District Commander for Langbaurgh Police and joint chairman of the Redcar and Cleveland Community Safety Partnership, said hundreds of people had already signed up to the facilities and he hoped more would follow.

He said: "People in West Redcar will benefit from this and I hope to see a reduction in house break-ins in this area. The police are committed to cutting house burglary and this is one of several projects that through the Community Safety Partnership will help us deliver."

The scheme seems to be working - one resident in the Coatham area who received a light and an alarm said it was reassuring.

She said: "Gone are the days of leaving doors unlocked but receiving the alarm and lights has made me feel a lot more comfortable in my home."

The police in the area have also been busy promoting Neighbourhood Watch as part of the burglary crackdown campaign