Housebreaking has decreased by 22% in Dundee, according to new police statistics.
Tayside’s top officer has welcomed the news, which shows there were 123 fewer homes broken into between January and March this year than the same period in 2014.
Detection rates for housebreaking still remain low in the city though, with fewer than one in five of the crimes being solved.
Chief Superintendent Eddie Smith said the reduction showed that police operations had been successful but that there was still more work to do.
In a report to city councillors, he said: “Encouragingly the year-end recorded figures for theft by housebreaking (which includes houses, garages, sheds, retail and non-occupied premises) shows a 22% reduction compared to last year.
“This represents 123 fewer houses being broken into within Dundee.
“Detection rates have also increased by 0.6%. These figures highlight the overall effectiveness of initiatives such as Operation RAC and Operation Afterdark.
“Housebreakings to residential properties is particularly distressing and all our officers appreciate the impact and long-lasting effect this has on the victims of these crimes.
“We remain committed to working hard at reducing crime of this nature and to identify and bring to justice those individuals involved in the commission of same.”
Between January and March this year, there were 436 housebreaking incidents in Dundee, of which 19% were solved. Over the same period last year, there were 559 housebreakings, of which 18.4% were solved.