Hoping to sleigh burglaries

About this time every year the Echo will carry a story about one Wearside family whose Christmas has been ruined by heartless burglars.

Homes in Sunderland will be bursting to overflowing with toys, cash and electrical goods in the runup to the festive season.

And of course that makes them an easy target for burglars.

So it’s resassuring to know that Northumbria Police are launching a Christmas crackdown on thieves.

Police will be hand-delivering Christmas cards to the homes of known criminals from today – with a warning that officers have them in their sights.

The cards aim to remind burglars that they ‘won’t get away with it’.

It also highlights the fact that the least a criminal can expect to receive from police if they are tempted to commit crime, is being arrested, time in a police cell, stringent bail conditions and a court case to follow.

The move is part of Operation Sleigh, and is aimed at targeting known burglars – and providing reassurance to residents in the run-up to Christmas.

Over the next 12 days, second-hand stores will also be visited by police team store mind owners of their responsibilitieswhen taking in items.

Other places where criminals are known to pass on goods – including pubs – will also receive a police visit.

Raids will also be carried out on the homes of suspected burglars.

Detective Chief Inspector Lee Gosling of Southern Area Command, said: “We have devised lists of people who are known to have committed burglary in the past and who we think may commit burglary again. Each one of them will be getting a visit from police over the next 12 days. We intend to hand-deliver these Christmas cards.”

Let’s hope this proactive campaign is a success.