Burglaries up as thieves freed
The number of house break-ins in the Black Country has soared by as much as 50 per cent because serial burglars have been released from jail, police said today.
A total of 886 burglaries have been reported in Dudley alone so far this year compared to 586 this time in 2006.
Across the West Midlands there have been 640 more burglaries of homes. In Sandwell the figure increased by 368.
The increase was today blamed on hard-core prisoners returning to crime after their release. Police confirm a small number of prolific criminals have caused figures to rocket but say a team of officers set up to combat the problem has already improved matters. And a call went out for more cash to help residents protect their homes.
Dudley North Chief Supt Keith Baldwin said burglary levels peaked across the whole of the borough during the summer because a relatively small number of known prolific offenders had been released from jail.
A rigorous programme targeting the culprits for the past two months had reduced the number of burglaries," he added.
West Midlands Police Authority member Councillor Judy Foster said systems were not in place to protect people living in areas where the ex-convicts are rehoused. "If a proper system is in place, this is an issue that can be dealt with effectively," she said.
"Dudley was cracking this problem three years ago but it seems to be re-emerging.
"Where these people are let out, the Prison Service needs to be informing the local authority immediately."
In contrast, in the east of Wolverhampton, the number of burglaries has fallen from 476 to 386 in the same period this year.
Det Insp Mark Payne, head of CID in the area, said: "When people are released from custody, we're notified, and we've got a team set up to look at those people."
