A TRADITIONAL rise in house burglaries around Christmas time has prompted Redditch police to launch an operation to tackle the problem.

Residents are being asked for help with Operation Holiday, which has been set up to cut the number of house break-ins and increase the number of detections.

Crime risk manager Pc Stan Baker said: "We know from experience that televisions, DVD players, computers and mobile phones are particular targets.

"Cash is also taken and on some occasions, even cars."

Pc Baker said most burglaries were committed by opportunist thieves and a fifth of all break-ins occurred because a door or window had been left open.

He said: "I would advise people to look carefully at their own homes and consider how easy it would be to get in.

"If it appears easy to you then a thief may well be tempted and you may be a target for the Christmas burglar.

"If you have ever locked yourself out then managed to get back in without major difficulty, then your house is probably not secure enough."

He added: "Never leave spare keys in a hiding place outside, such as under a doormat or flowerpot - these are the first places a thief would look.

"And inside your home, never leave your car keys lying around as offenders won't think twice about loading your Christmas presents into your car and driving off with them.

"Consider spending a little more to fit security lights, a burglar alarm or even planting a thorny hedge as a deterrent."