THERE have been 800 fewer victims of domestic burglary across Stoke-on-Trent than there were two years ago according to the latest crime figures.
Across the city, 1,634 homes were raided by burglars in 2008/2009. Of those, police found the culprits responsible for 283 crimes, a detection rate of 17.3 per cent.
That figure was reduced by 300 in 2009/10, to 1,334, while burglars guilty of committing 188 raids were caught – a detection rate of 14.1 per cent.
So far this year, there have been 986 domestic break-ins between April 1, 2010 and March 17, 2011 and a huge improvement in detection rates, with 216 – 21.9 per cent – of those burglaries solved.
The latest figures concerning domestic burglaries are a sharp contrast to statistics that show overall numbers of break-ins, which also includes sheds, garages and outbuildings.
Overall across the city there were 3,330 break-ins in 2008/9, 2,818 in 2009/10 and 2,090 in 2010/11.
Detection rates have remained steady over the three-year period at 14 per cent, 13 per cent and 14 per cent respectively.
Chief Inspector Wayne Jones, of Staffordshire Police, leads the burglary unit, which covers Stoke-on-Trent.
He said: "It is very difficult to find who has broken into a shed or a garage because often it will be a few days before it is discovered by the owners.
"The overall figures for burglary also include any empty premises, such as an abandoned house, but also a garage, factory or shed.
"The figures also take into account when people have attempted to get in but failed.
"We prioritise burglaries to people's homes, and detection rates have gone up.
"We will also solve a lot more burglaries than we can record as 'detected'. Often when someone has got their property back they don't want the person responsible to go to prison, it may be someone they know.
"We have got a sergeant and eight police officers who look at every burglary in Stoke-on-Trent.
"Each is followed up by a forensic officer, who takes evidence at the scene."
Each burglary is added to a crime map. Police try to link together clusters of break-ins in the same area, often finding they are committed by the same offender.
They also examine methods used in forcing entry and the type of items stolen.
If one particular area has seen a large number of house robberies, police may look at setting up a "rat-trap" house.
Ch Insp Jones said: "We make sure the rat-trap house looks like it has been lived in and we don't make it too easy for them, then we will deploy a number of tactics to help us to respond quickly."
Police also work with pawn shops and cash for gold stores to identify when stolen items have been put up for sale.
Recovering heroin addict James McDermott is a former burglar who used to steal to fund his drug habit.
The 36-year-old, who has been clean for two years, is now chairman of RIOT, a group made up of ex-addicts who visit schools to warn pupils away from drugs.
He said: "With me it started with shoplifting, but the shops shut at 5.30pm, my addiction didn't.
"When I first broke into a house I was scared stiff. I picked a house I thought was empty and went in through a window.
"It was never anything personal and I never thought about the people I was stealing from, it was all about the drugs."
Charlotte Rogers had �1,000 worth of electrical items stolen when her Tunstall home was burgled in September 2007.
It was burgled again two years later by the same prolific burglar, who used to live in the same street as 39-year-old Mrs Rogers.
Then, just last week, someone once again attempted to break into her property – before being scared off by the dog she bought for protection.
Mrs Rogers said: "You feel completely violated. You don't feel safe in your own home."
Dr Anurag Golash, pictured left, used a golf club to catch a burglar who was stealing from the garage of his Newcastle home last year.
The father-of-two, a surgeon at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, held the intruder until police arrived.
He said: "Waiting for the police to come was the longest few minutes of my life.
"At the time I most felt anger, that he had come to my home to steal, especially when I have two children."
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