WIREDGOV

A state-of-the-art scheme to catch burglars in the act has launched across the force after finding significant success during its introduction in the County.

West Yorkshire Police has introduced a flagship Capture House programme in burglary hotspots across all force areas after a highly successful introductory run of the initiative in Huddersfield and a successful pilot in Leeds.

In the latest success, three men were arrested and charged after breaking into a Capture House in the Huddersfield area last week.

The Houses themselves are set up to gather evidence of thieves committing burglaries and will be accompanied by a renewed drive to crack down on burglary across the force.

They are equipped with the latest detection technology and are stocked with goods which could make them potential targets.

Once inside intruders are monitored by concealed CCTV and exposed to a liquid based property marking solution through which they can later be identified.

A number of Capture Houses are already operating in the force and more will be added in burglary hotspots.

Student houses and flats and multiple occupancy housing areas will feature particularly strongly but the tactic will also be used in any residential area that is being targeted by burglars and in commercial premises.

While the precise numbers and locations of Capture Houses will not be disclosed to improve their effectiveness, signs are being installed to inform residents and criminals in areas where the scheme is operating.

The initiative follows the success of the Capture House pilot in Leeds last year which lead to the successful arrest and prosecution of burglars.

These have included a 23-year-old from Harehills in Leeds who was jailed for nine months at Leeds Crown Court after breaking into the forces first capture house in December last year.

As a result of the recent Huddersfield initiative officers arrested and charged three men with burglary and recovered the goods taken from the property.

Another man has also been charged with receiving stolen goods.

The Capture House programme will also complement a reinforced Neighbourhood Policing drive in West Yorkshire which will involve local police and community support officers in a high visibility reassurance campaign to highlight the extensive efforts being made to reduce burglary.

Known offenders will also be visited and given a DVD showing footage of those caught in previous Capture Houses as a warning. They will also be offered help of their criminality has been caused by a drug habit.

Click here to view the DVD footage on 999tv.

Please note the footage shown on the video linked above is taken from a DVD that was sent to known offenders.

Its success follows a similar Capture Car scheme in which target vehicles were set up to entice thieves also resulted in a many arrests and prosecutions across the whole of West Yorkshire over the past two years.

This tactic also contributed significantly to a reduction of almost 4000 thefts from motor vehicles since April 2007 compared with the same period the year before.

Detective Inspector Patrick O'Neill, of Huddersfield CID, said: "We are delighted by the success of the Kirklees Capture House as it acts as warn to burglars that there is nowhere to hide.
“We are going to continue Capture House operations in this area following this success in which we arrested three known offenders and also recovered a substantial amount of property, which has been stolen in burglaries.”

He added: "Burglary is an attack on the homes of people who have worked hard to save for their new purchases and burglars need to realise they do not have the right to enter them.

"I am looking for residents in our area to take a stand and put the fear of crime back onto the offender by contacting us on 0845 6060606 or in confidence on CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 if they have any information about burglary.

"The message is simple if you have committed a burglary, expect a call from Kirklees CID."

Detective Chief Inspector Tony Craven of West Yorkshire Police, said: "Building on the success of Capture Car which, since its inception, has seen a reduction of almost 4000 thefts from vehicles in 07 -08, we have introduced the Capture House initiative.

"These have been deployed throughout the force in burgalry hotspot areas and equipped with the latest detection technology.

"Our pilot studies in Leeds have shown their effect as each one has produced arrests and we have of course also seen recent success in Kirklees."