Hampshire Burglary Operation Extended

Operation Nemesis, Hampshire Constabulary’s campaign to tackle burglary across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, will continue until March 2012. 
 
Launched on October 1, 2011 in a bid halt the rise in burglaries across the two counties, Operation Nemesis was initially planned for three months but will now be extended for a further three to embed the positive turnaround in burglary figures that hasbeen achieved so far. 
 
From October 1, 2011 to January 15, 2012 there have been 1,458 reported burglaries, 112 less burglaries than in the same 16 week period in the previous reporting year (April 2010 to March 2011) and 181 less than the previous 16 week period before the launchof the campaign. 525 distinct arrests for burglary have also been made. 
 
The seasonal peak in burglaries often experienced during December did not materialise and for the last six weeks the burglary figures have reduced consistently each week.  
 
So far in this recording year (April 2011 to March 2012) 4,163 burglaries have been reported to Hampshire Constabulary. Of these, 882 (21.2 per cent) have been solved. 
 
However, over a third of all dwelling burglaries are still the result of properties being left insecure, with windows being left open and doors unlocked.
 
Deputy Chief Constable Andy Marsh, said: "We are strongly committed to protecting our communities from the harm caused by crime and have worked hard to achieve reductions year on year.
 
“Burglary remains a priority for the constabulary with figures showing there is still work to be done to drive incidents down. Our campaign Operation Nemesis, which deals with serious acquisitive crime with a focus on burglary, is part of that aim.
 
I am satisfied that at a time of significant change and economic downturn that we have achieved good progress driving overall crime down. I believe our commitment to protecting the number of staff in the three policing Areas has made an important contributionto these achievements."