Chief Insp Neal Atwell, district commander for the area, said new figures showed overall crime has fallen by 19 per cent.

Between April and July this year, there were 395 offences within Mid Suffolk, compared to 490 crimes for the same period last year.

But house burglaries have doubled from six in 2007 to 12 in 2008.

Speaking at a Stowmarket Town Council meeting last Wednesday, Chief Insp Atwell said: "House burglaries are our biggest concern at the moment. We need to encourage people to lock their doors and windows as well as target the burglars themselves. These crimes are being carried out by a small amount of individuals."

But he said violent crime was down from 111 to 104, criminal damage was down from 92 to 84 and theft from vehicles was down from 45 to 14.

He said: "This is a great reduction overall and I think a lot of this is to do with the new sports activities being offered to youngsters in Stowmarket on the recreation ground and new youth club. The success of this project proves youngsters want and need activities in the town and the reduction in crime reflects this."

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