Burglary continues to fall in Shropshire

Operation Citadel was launched by West Mercia Police in the autumn of 2012, after a significant spike in the number of burglaries across Shropshire and Telford in the preceding months.

However, despite this increase, hard work by officers has seen the total number of house burglaries between April 2012 and January 2013 fall when compared to the same period for 2011 to 2012.

"Given the unusually large increase we had in April, May and June last year, to have an overall reduction just a few months on is testament to the hard work and dedication by officers to both put offenders before the court and disrupt the activities of known burglars," said Superintendent James Tozer, Commander for Shropshire.

His comments come as two men were both jailed for more than two and a half years each for separate burglary offences in Market Drayton and Shifnal.

Paul McGarry, 32, of Market Drayton was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting burgling a house in Pendril Close.

And Jack Harbourne, 29, from Dudley was jailed for two years after admitting burgling a home on Ryton Road, Shifnal and for a further eight months for handling stolen goods taken from a home near Cleobury Mortimer.

Superintendent Tozer said that in addition to the overall drop in offences, the number of offenders convicted has also almost doubled over the same period.

"We will not become complacent, burglary remains a top priority for the force. The success of Citadel and resulting fall in burglary is encouraging but we remain committed to reducing levels even further," he said.

"My officers have made great arrests and investigations are ongoing- but the most important part is the support from the public. The reports of suspicious incidents are vital to getting the offenders identified. Communities have an important role to play in reducing crime.

"We will continue working closely with our communities and other partners to deal with those who commit crime."