Fewer than eight per cent of burglary reports in Blackburn last year resulted in a charge/summons according to new statistics.

The figures were revealed to the Lancashire Telegraph by a Freedom of Information request which showed out of 442 reported burglaries in the town in 2023, only 35 resulted in a charge/summons – just 7.2 per cent.

This is, however, higher than the national average of 3.9 per cent for the year.

Lancashire Constabulary’s Freedom of Information team were not able to provide information relating to prosecutions, fines, convictions or prison sentences in relation to the offences where charges were brought.

Close to 1,000 individual items were stolen across the total number of burglaries, with figures showing cash was the most frequently stolen item on 66 separate occasions.

UPVC, locks and padlocks, keys and security items, and mobile phones were also among the top five of the most frequently stolen items.

The list also revealed some of the stranger items that were stolen, including a washing machine, wallpaper, stamps, and poultry.

The top 15 items were:

  • Cash – 66
  • UPVC – 34
  • Lock/Padlock – 26
  • Keys and security items – 22
  • Mobile phone – 21
  • Body jewellery – 19
  • Laptop/netbook – 19
  • Wristwatch (Gents) – 19
  • Chain – 16
  • Mountain bike – 16
  • Cash till – 15
  • Games console – 15
  • Drill – 14
  • Tablet – 13
  • Boiler - 12

Publicly available data from police.uk showed there were 63 burglaries in the borough of Blackburn with Darwen in January of this year.

This is an increase of more than 85 per cent from January 2023 where there were only 34 recorded burglaries.

Lancashire Police have been approached for comment.