Crackdown after house burglaries

Police are investigating 15 burglaries

Fifteen houses within two miles of each other in Wrexham have been broken into within the space of four weeks.

North Wales Police officers are patrolling the town's suburbs of Hightown and Bryn Offa alerting homeowners to the crimes.

Detective Constable Andy Crawford said officers have a photo fit of a man they are looking for after a homeowner walked in on him.

However, he said they were remaining "open minded" about the burglaries and stressed the crimes could have been committed by different people.

"This is an opportunist thief who hangs about watching and waiting for people to go out.

In this specific area this is quite a high number of burglaries

Detective Sergeant Mark Hughes

"He's looking for easy pickings so we would ask people in these areas to be extra vigilant and keep a lookout for anyone acting suspiciously in the area," said Det Con Crawford.

The man police are searching for is believed to be in his early 20's. He is described as white, 5ft 7 inches tall and with a spotty complexion.

Items stolen in the raids include play stations and games, jewellery and money.

As part of a fresh initiative North Wales Police have designated four officers to a newly set up burglary unit.

Operation Homesafe makes sure all reported burglaries committed in houses within Wrexham town centre are fully investigated.

Police say the burglar in the recent spate of crimes has specifically targeted terraced houses in the Bryn Offa and Hightown areas of Wrexham.

"We're looking at every burglary very seriously," said Detective Sergeant Mark Hughes.

"In this specific area this is quite a high number of burglaries."