RESIDENTS are being urged to stay vigilant despite a 37.5 per cent crime reduction in one week.

Lancashire police’s eastern division watch liaison officer said householders needed to still be on their guard as year-on-year, instances of burglary, robbery, vehicle thefts and thefts from vehicles were all up.

He said: “Everyone’s hard work and extra vigilance has resulted in some good arrests and some quality information from the public has surely contributed to the reduction in crime.

“Please do not relax from this heightened state of vigilance because the threat remains. Only when we achieve a sustained fall in crime can we afford to relax a little.

“Vigilance and taking note of the world around us is never a bad thing.”