A BLITZ on the devastating crime of burglary has already seen six people arrested and charged in Basingstoke.

As part of a force-wide campaign known as Operation Nemesis, detectives in the town have stepped up efforts to target known burglars and gather intelligence to identify these criminals and their associates.

The three-month operation began under cover in January, due to operational reasons, but it has now been brought to the public’s attention in the hope of promoting the message that burglars are not welcome anywhere in Hampshire and that those who are caught will face tough punishments.

Since the campaign started on January 5, a total of 125 suspects have been arrested throughout the county.

During the same time, there have been 27 burglaries in the Basingstoke and Deane district and 11 people have been arrested.

Of those 11, six have been charged with offences that include burglary, handling stolen goods and aggravated taking of vehicles.

Detection rates for house burglary, distraction burglary and non-dwelling burglary in Hampshire, relating to the period April to November, 2008, are relatively low, at 16.5 per cent, 13.7 per cent and 6.8 per cent respectively.

Chief Inspector Jill Baldry, district commander for Basingstoke and Deane, said: “We have clear evidence that the target for offenders in Basingstoke continues to be home insecurities, open doors and windows and UPVC doors not being double-locked with a key. Another problem in the district is burglaries from sheds and garages.”

She added: “In order to beat the burglar, we need to remove the opportunity. Our communities are our eyes and ears and often they are the ones who notice suspicious people or unusual vehicles in their neighbourhoods.”

Speaking at the launch of the campaign on Monday, Hampshire Chief Constable Alex Marshall said: “We know that burglary is a horrible crime which has a significant emotional impact on the victim and a financial impact on individuals and companies.

“In addition to preventing and solving burglaries, we need to build more confidence in the police, especially with rural communities and small businesses. In some cases, a commercial theft can put a victim out of business for a lifetime.”

He also pledged that officers would visit all burglary victims and that the whole force would work as one team in an effort to beat the burglars.

Anyone with any information about a burglary is asked to ring Hampshire police on 0845 045 4545.