Housebreakers in Dundee’s Strathmartine ward are three times more likely to escape justice than those targeting properties in Coldside, according to a new report.
Police figures show that only 10.9% of recorded incidents of housebreaking were detected in the ward between April and December compared to 33.9% in Coldside.
A Strathmartine councillor has accused the force of “taking its eye off the ball” when it came to tackling the issue.
There were 55 housebreakings or attempted housebreakings in Strathmartine during the period, with only six being detected.
Strathmartine Ward councillor Kevin Keenan said: “Right across the city it’s poor and I’m concerned about that.
“There needs to be some level of focus. It’s not good enough that these crimes are going undetected.
“The inconsistency is frustrating but the level right across the city looks like the police have taken their eye off the ball when it comes to housebreaking, that’s what the figures seem to suggest to me.”
The East End had the next lowest detection rate with only four of the 33 housebreakings during the period being detected (12.1%).
Broughty Ferry had 24 housebreakings during the eight-month period, with only three being detected, a rate of 12.5%.
Despite the low detection rate in some areas of the city, the officer in charge of policing in Dundee highlighted a reduction in the number of total housebreakings and a rise in the overall detection rate of 1.1%.
In a report to go before the council’s policy and resources committee on Monday, Chief Superintendent Eddie Smith states: “Recorded theft by housebreaking for this period has fallen from 419 to 343, an 18.1% reduction in comparison to the same period last year.
“Detection rates for theft by housebreaking have also increased to 20.4%. Operation RAC and Operation After Dark have been instrumental in the above reduction in housebreakings.
“Operation RAC is a national toolkit in relation to best practice in respect of prevention and detection of housebreakings and is led by a detective inspector in the division.
“Operation After Dark is about educating the public about their responsibility to take care of their property and for police officers to seize every opportunity to provide crime reduction and prevention advice.”