POLICE patrols are being increased following a spate of burglaries at homes along the A1 corridor in North Yorkshire.

Raiders have targeted homes in Knaresborough, Spofforth, Boroughbridge and Kirby Hill over recent days and property worth thousands of pounds has been stolen, as well as the keys to cars.

The haul has included a W-registered grey Fiat Stilo, a camcorder, digital cameras, computer games and valuable Nao and Lladro ceramic figures.

Neighbourhood and farm watches across the district have been alerted and increased police patrols have been launched. Extra road policing, using automatic number-plate recognition systems, has also been put in place.

Local community safety officer PC Geoff Crocker said: "I feel for the victims of these crimes.

"Being a burglary victim is very, very distressing, and for the sake of using existing security and locking a door, and investing in a simple alarm system, these burglaries need not have occurred.

"The deterrent effect of burglar alarms cannot be over-emphasised. They are not about catching burglars, but are about deterring them - and they work."

Home owners adjacent to the A1 are being asked to be vigilant and call the police about any suspicious activity.

Anyone with information about these crimes should call Harrogate CID on 0845 6060 247 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.