Burglars who have blighted householders across the North East have been jailed for prison terms totalling 165 years, in under ten months this year.

Northumbria Police’s dedicated burglary teams have reached the impressive milestone in custodial results following targeted investigations resulting in the court convictions.

Dedicated officers based in Wallsend, Newcastle and Sunderland, effectively teams of “burglar hunters”, have been tasked with reviewing every break-in across the force area and bringing justice for those responsible.

So far this year, more than 60 thieves and burglars have been handed terms of imprisonment after the burglary teams proved they were responsible for a string of offences committed across the North East.

Read more: Prolific Gateshead burglar arrested a short time after his latest commercial crime

The combined tally of those sentences exceeds 165 years, with other offenders remanded in custody and still awaiting punishment in the courts.

Many other defendants have also been convicted at court and are serving suspended sentences with strict associated conditions.

A breakdown reveals that burglars committing offences in the Newcastle and Gateshead areas were jailed for more than 77 years, since January.

The total for North Tyneside and Northumberland is more than 54 years since the start of 2022, while offenders in Sunderland and South Tyneside have been jailed for more than 34 years, so far this year.

The Northern Echo:

Detective Chief Inspector Sean McGuigan, of Northumbria Police, said: “In 2022 alone we have seen some exceptional outcomes. which is testament to the hard work of our dedicated burglary teams across the North East.

“Burglary is such an intrusive crime which can have a significant impact on victims, their families and also the wider community as a whole.

“That’s why we are committed to putting thieves and burglars behind bars, and it’s important the public see justice being served.

“That commitment was recognised in a recent independent inspection report which acknowledged the good quality of our investigations and quality service to victims of crime.

“It is fantastic to hear about the excellent results across the force and we hope this offers reassurance to the public.”

These latest results come after Northumbria Police was rated as ‘good’ for investigating crime in the recent inspection report carried out by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

The force is committed to building on this work over the coming weeks and months to bring offenders to justice and to support victims.

Read more: Burglar Karl Hogg in jail after burglary at Jimmy's Barbers

Approaching winter, Det Chief Insp McGuigan has offered advice to residents across the region as the force continues to seek to prevent opportunistic thieves from striking.

He said officers will again be honing-in on targeted areas in a bid to prevent burglaries from taking place and making sure criminals who attempt to operate under the cover of darkness leave empty-handed.

“As ever, we would always ask the public to work with us, be vigilant, and take a few extra steps to help reduce the risk of them becoming a victim of crime. “Please, lock your doors and windows, keep your vehicles locked, and make sure any valuables are kept out of sight.

“Our burglary teams work hand-in-hand with our neighbourhood policing teams to monitor crime trends, deploy targeted patrols and offer crime prevention advice to those most at risk.

“By all working together, we can continue to make sure Northumbria remains as safe as it possibly can be to live, work and visit.”

He urged anyone seeing anything suspicious in their community, to inform police.

Anyone who sees anybody acting suspiciously is asked to contact police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of the force website, or by calling 101.

In case of an emergency, or if a crime is taking place, callers are always urged to ring 999.

Read next:

               Spot of blood brings North East burglar to justice

               Newcastle burglar jailed after threatening victim with pole

               Drug dealers, arsonists & burglar jailed in the North East so far in October

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