HOME owners are making burglary easy by leaving doors and windows open, claim Cleveland Police.

Figures show 50 per cent of house burglaries in Middlesbrough are being committed in homes where doors and windows are left unlocked.

Since July 1, more than 200 houses have been burgled in the town, and 100 victims have admitted that the thief was able to get in through an open door or window.

The figures were collected by crime prevention officers who visit a home after a burglary to offer advice on security and carry out a home survey.

The number of house burglaries is at an all-time low in the town, but police want to cut them further, and are urging residents to take sensible crime prevention measures.

PC Mick McGravey, Middlesbrough's crime prevention officer said: "We are amazed at the number of householders who admit to forgetting to lock their property.

"We could slash the number of burglaries we deal with if only we could get the message across how important it is to 'shut up and shut them out'.

"Historically, during the summer months, we see a rise in thefts from gardens and sheds, but we are concerned that at the moment the thieves seem to be having an easy time just walking into houses and helping themselves to property on display."