POLICE in Swindon have hit back at criticism over rising burglary rates.

Increasing housebreaks were flagged up as an area of concern in a report into Wiltshire Constabulary.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary praised other areas of performance, but said that a burglary action plan was needed.

However, Swindon detectives say they are winning the war on burglars.

Det Sgt Ady Wys, who heads the Operation Delta burglary squad set up last year, said that rates are currently well below target.

"The target we have been given is to keep burglaries under 19 a week," he said.

"We have kept the figure under that since the end of May.

"The average at the moment is 10 a week.

"As far as we are concerned, any burglary is one too many.

"We see the effect burglaries have on people at first hand, and it is a terrible offence.

"But we are reaching the targets we have been given.

"Often the figures in these reports are not up to date."

Operation Delta was launched last summer to reverse soaring burglary rates.

Within a month, rates of 100 a month were halved, and the success led to the squad being kept on indefinitely.

"The challenge is to keep the rates down," said DS Wys.

Nearly all the town's burglars are heroin or crack addicts stealing to feed their addictions, he said.

Addicts with a severe dependency will often burgle two or three properties a day.

Operation Delta officers work closely with prison authorities so they know when burglars are poised for release.

Detectives keep tabs on known offenders once they are back in the community.

Computer technology also plays a crucial role. A state-of-the-art system is used to log details of burglaries. The system helps detectives link a spate of burglaries to one offender.

It also makes it easier to reunite owners with stolen property.

Police also use large Swindon companies to get crime prevention messages to thousands of people.

E-mails are sent to staff at companies such as Zurich and Nationwide with tips on beating criminals.

Tamash Lal