A CRACKDOWN by police on suspected burglars saw a series of dawn raids on houses across St Helens and four arrests.

It was part of a Merseyside-wide operation to tackle an anticipated spike in burglaries in coming weeks.

Four people were arrested last Thursday, including three men aged between 18 and 43-years-old for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

A 40-year-old man was also arrested for possession of controlled drugs.

All have been bailed pending further enquiries.

Detective Inspector Martin Earl told the Star that there is usually a spike in the number of burglaries over the winter months as the dark nights draw in.

He added: “There were 25 warrants issued across the force with four arrests in St Helens. Three were from one address and one from another in relation to drugs offences.

“The warrants were executed looking for people with links to burglary and car crimes, a lot of burglaries are desperate and many are linked back to drugs.

“The darker nights and mornings coming up to Christmas give burglars more opportunities.

“People should always be aware – 33 per cent of burglaries are as a result of people leaving doors and windows unlocked.“Although we have seen a reduction in offences over the last month.”

He said that many burglars are opportunists and will walk along streets trying car door handles until they find one that is unlocked.

Leading the burglary crackdown was Superintendent Chris Markey.

He said: “It’s not just about disrupting the activities of offenders and preventing them from going about their daily business.

“We have also stepped up patrols in hotspot areas and we are working hard to provide home owners with advice on how to keep their property safe.

“Many burglaries are preventable by simply locking doors and shutting windows.”