POLICE have confirmed burglaries are on the rise after seven were reported in one day in the Reigate and Banstead borough.
Neighbourhood Inspector Richard Haycock announced last week that house burglaries have risen 11.6 per cent over the last 12 months.
But he urged residents not to be concerned, saying crime in general is down 11.4 per cent, with violent crime down 22.8 per cent and robberies down 40.4 per cent.
On top of that, theft from cars – a particular focus for Inspector Haycock – has also fallen by 24.3 per cent in the last year.
The news broke the day after a string of house break-ins blighted the Banstead area, with six houses hit in the space of a few hours.
Inspector Haycock told the Mirror: "Clearly these are linked; all within a couple of hours during the day, so almost inevitably there is a link."
There were seven break-ins in total last Thursday, six in a relatively small area, and each involving forced entry and the raiders taking the most valuable items on offer.
The burglaries took place in Lower Dunnymans, Banstead; High Road, Chipstead; and Monkswell Lane, Mugswell.
Within 48 hours of these, houses were also hit in St Johns Road, Redhill; Hooley Lane, Redhill; Wimborne Avenue, Redhill; and South Albert Road, Reigate.
Inspector Haycock added: "The location at the top of the borough is attractive to thieves because it's close to the Sutton and Metropolitan area; it is attractive to cross-border criminals who want to attack Surrey.
"But we also have local offenders; it could be anything and we are pursuing both lines of enquiry."
Residents in the north of the borough were surprised to hear their area had been targeted.
Douglas Hodkinson, 46, lives in the area with his family including three young children.
He told the Mirror: "It is a definite concern to hear about this sort of thing going on close to where we live.
"We haven't seen or heard much trouble in the two years we have lived here, but it is worrying."
