BURGLARIES are on the rise in St Helens, it has been revealed.

Chief Inspector Gary O’Rourke, from the local policing team, spoke at St Helens Council’s safer communities overview and scrutiny panel on Wednesday.

He said there has been a rise in burglaries across St Helens, but particularly in Rainford, Haydock and Newton-le-Willows.

Ch Insp O’Rourke said: “We are getting a number of burglaries where people still aren’t securing their properties,”

“So, we’re still getting a lot of windows left open and we’re getting a lot of opportunists out there who are taking advantage of this and committing burglaries.”

Cllr Dennis McDonnell, ward member for Billinge and Seneley Green, said there were a number of burglaries around the Chapel End area of Billinge on Thursday of last week.

Ch Insp O’Rourke said officers have been working varying shifts as many of the burglaries have taken place late at night and in the early hours.

PCSOs have also been deployed in areas where burglaries have taken place to advise residents and to gather information.

Officers have also had support from the force’s Matrix and Serious and Organised Crime (MSOC) team, who have been out in the early hours.

Ch Insp O’Rourke revealed that some of the offenders may be coming from across the border, so officers are working with Lancashire Constabulary.

He said a community meeting was set up by the local neighbourhood Inspector and Newton ward councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron after a number of homes were burgled in the Vulcan Park area.

Ch Insp O’Rourke urged members of the public to pass on any information even if they feel it may not be relevant.

“We are really, really keen to get information with regards to who is committing these offences,” he said.

“If we knew we’d be out there, and we’d stop them, and we wouldn’t have this sort of increase.

“So, we’re pleading to gather information.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 or direct message Merseyside Police on Twitter.