POLICE say there is only one thing that will halt an alarming increase in burglaries in Swindon the public.

The latest crime figures, which were published in the Advertiser yesterday, show a year-on-year increase in burglaries a fact that is largely attributed to the town's chronic drugs problem.

Now police are renewing their appeal for the public to arm them with information in their bid to beat burglars and drive addicts from the streets.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Granger, Swindon's crime manager, said: "We can't get away from the fact there has been an increase in burglaries, but we can't solve them on our own we need information from the public.

"In June 2002 we identified burglaries were starting to increase significantly and at the beginning of last year we launched Operation Delta to combat domestic burglary and figures show that it has worked."

In the first quarter of last year there were 347 domestic burglaries in Swindon, in the second quarter 321 and in the third 268, but police say they are not complacent.

"Undoubtedly the main driving force behind people committing crime especially burglaries is drugs, but we can't solve this on our own," said DCI Granger

"I think it's fair to say there is a significant problem with Class A drugs, but obviously Swindon is not at the level of inner city areas like Bristol.

"We don't have the associated violence and gun crime of say, Reading, Gloucester or Bristol, but that's not to say that it will not come in the future.

"If people don't want that to happen they have to tell us who the dealers and pushers are.

"There are people in the community who know the people who are committing these offences but if they don't tell us their identities they are just as likely to become victims of crime as anyone else."

The good news is that distraction burglaries are down on last year and detection is up.

Overall crime, which includes theft, violent crime and criminal damage, is down from 14,492 instances in the period between April and December 2002 to 13,715 during the same period last year.

And violent assaults have fallen from 2,079 in the same period in 2002 to 1,871 last year.

Supt Richard Rowland said: "The Swindon Drugs Hotline is an invaluable tool in the fight against crime."

People can call the hotline anonymously on 01793 528800 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.