SUFFOLK: Repeat offenders and a struggling economy have been blamed for domestic burglaries in Suffolk rising by 13 per cent in a year – the second largest increase in the country.

Recorded crime figures supplied by police forces, and published by the Home Office, have revealed there were 2,029 break-ins between October 2009 and September 2010.

Non-dwelling burglaries also rose by 8pc (to a total of 3,531) compared with the previous 12 months.

Suffolk’s overall rise in burglaries was 10pc. The only constabulary in England and Wales with a higher percentage increase in overall burglaries was West Midlands with 12pc.

Suffolk’s Assistant Chief Constable Paul Marshall said: “Over the past few years crime has come down significantly, but what we have now is the position where we have reached a plateau.

“House burglary remains a priority. What we see across Suffolk is there are probably only a very small number of offenders.”

There were a total of 46,534 recorded crimes in Suffolk between October 2009 and September 2010. Other increases were in violence against the person (9pc), and fraud and forgery (22pc).

Mr Marshall said: “When the economy is suffering the types of crimes we see an increase in are fraud and forgery, shoplifting, and acquisitive crime like thefts from houses and from vehicles.”

The rise in violent crime is primarily attributed to lower level offences, the majority of which involved non-injury incidents.