House burglaries in Crawley were down 50 per cent in the first four months this year, compared with the same period last year.

There were 182 break-ins throughout Forest division, which includes Crawley, Horsham and Steyning and Pulborough, with a detection rate of 14 per cent.

Overall there were 5,033 crimes, 508 or nine per cent down. The division successfully detected a total of 1,180 (23 per cent of all reported crime).

During the same period, the West Sussex force recorded a total of 46,961 offences, 583 or one per cent down on the first four months of last year.

Det Chief Insp Chris Gillings, of Forest Division, said: "We are achieving a reduction across all our priority areas and our detection rates are either above or in line with the Force average."

He added: "At present we go from strength to strength in reducing house burglaries.

"A 50 per cent reduction is a dramatic achievement and a testament to the effectiveness of the methods we are adopting in terms of targeting and pro-active patrols across all three sectors."

Crawley recorded 2,933 crimes, 409 or 12 per cent down on last year; Horsham recorded 1,425 crimes, 72 or five per cent down; and Steyning, 675 crimes, 27 down.

The division reported a total of 817 violent crimes, which was 130, or 14 per cent down on the previous year, with a detection rate of 51 per cent, slightly below the force average of 54 per cent.

Overall, the force recorded a total of 7,009 violent crimes, 355 more than the first four months of last year.

Crawley recorded 567 violent crimes, 66 fewer or ten per cent down on last year; Horsham, 191, 40 or 17 per cent down; and Steyning and Pulborough, 59, 24 down.

There were 552 thefts from vehicles, which was 161 or 23 per cent down on last year. This compares with the force total of 5,687, which was 879 or 13 per cent down.

Mr Gillings said: "Currently our detection rate stands at six per cent, set against the force average of five per cent. It can be seen that one third of the way through the performance plan year we have reduced thefts from vehicles by almost 25 per cent."

The division recorded a total of 179 stolen motor vehicles between January and the end of April, which was 48 or 21 per cent down. Detection rate was 17 per cent, set against the force average of ten per cent.

Mr Gillings said: "By targeting individuals and seeking to hot-spot not only the areas from where vehicles are disappearing but also the types of vehicles stolen, we are being effective in achieving a significant reduction in this priority area.