Cambridge Xmas Burglaries

31 December 2010, 14:37 | Updated: 31 December 2010, 14:51

17 homes in Cambridge were broken into while families were away over Christmas.

The houses were burgled between Christmas Eve and yesterday (30 Dec).

Burglars tried to break into a further four homes in the city during the same period, but couldn't get inside.

This works out at four burglaries per day, which is around the same number as in previous years.

Cambridgeshire Police say robbers got into houses in the majority of cases by forcing their way through a window or door at the back of properties.

Things from small loose change to thousands of pounds worth of jewelery and electrical items have been stolen.

Crime Scene Investigators have visited each property to check for evidence including fingerprints, footprints, DNA, clothing fibres and tool markings.

Officers are also now regularly checking second hand shops in and around Cambridge to try and trace the stolen goods.

Police say officers have "some ideas as to who may be responsible for some of these offences and will be seeking to gather evidence upon which to make arrests and prosecute the offenders".

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson added: "Four burglaries per day in a policing area with a population of over 300,000 is four too many but still below average.

We have locked up a significant number of burglars over recent months and we continue to relentlessly pursue burglars using all of the available resources and tactics at our disposal."

In connection with the burglaries, officers searched a house in Victoria Road in Cambridge and recovered some property which is still being examined.

A 38 year old man from Cambridge was arrested there on suspicion of burglary and is currently being held at Parkside Police Station.