Burglaries have hit an all-time low in Suffolk with police pointing to camera doorbells acting as a deterrent for the would-be criminal.

Reports of burglary in Suffolk have more than halved in the last six years, with 1,911 crimes recorded from April 2022 to March 2023.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Hinitt said: "While it is pleasing to see that the volume of burglaries committed in Suffolk has fallen over recent years, it is imperative we prevent burglaries from happening in the first place as we do not under-estimate the impact it has on victims."

The Suffolk Constabulary DCI explained that the figures were partly impacted by Covid-19, which saw an increase in the number of people working from home.

He added that the force had also seen an uptake in the number of residents utilising smart CCTV including camera doorbells, saying: "We believe these measures act as a deterrent and they have also helped us to catch and convict more burglars."

DCI Hinnitt said: "The investigation of burglaries remains a priority for us and we recognise that this is a crime that can have a deep and lasting impact on victims beyond just the loss of personal belongings.

"In addition, anyone who is a victim of a residential burglary can expect a visit from the police and burglaries are also subject to review for attendance by Crime Scene Investigators to maximise the recovery of physical evidence from crime scenes."

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The Suffolk Constabulary officer also emphasised the importance of crime prevention measures, saying that opportunist thieves are often looking out for lapses in security provided by doors and windows left open during the summer period.

He added: "If you see suspicious activity and a crime of burglary in action then please call us on 999."