A MAJOR summer campaign to crack down on a recent rise in burglaries is set to be launched this week.

Officers said Operation Julius will aim to tackle problems that has seen a 10 per cent increase in the number of homes broken into in the past two months.

In April last year there were 382 house burglaries compared to 478 this year.

Meanwhile in May this year the figure was 433 compared to 430 12 months earlier.

Chief Constable Steve Finnigan said burglaries are at an “all-time low”.

He said: “We are at historic low levels for burglary and a small increase in numbers amounts to a big increase in percentages.”

Operation Julius, which is Latin for July, will see a series of high-profile campaigns to warn people of the dangers of summer burglaries.

In the past week there has been a spate of burglaries in Hyndburn where householders have become victims of sneak-in thefts when leaving doors unlocked while in their gardens.

Officers also want householders to be aware of the dangers of leaving windown open over night.

Sgt Simon Holderness said: “Burglary is low in Lancashire but we want to keep it that way and I urge residents to take extra precautions to keep their homes safe and secure.

“Because of the warm weather, people are doing things they wouldn't norm-ally be doing, like sitting in the back garden while the front door is unlocked, and forgetting to lock windows and doors at night, partic-ularly doors that lead to gardens as these are some-times not used all year round.

“I would advise residents to make sure their doors are locked at all times."

A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary said: “Burglary is a crime that is an intrusion of personal space and this can have a devastating effect on victims.

"We will not be complacent and intend to tackle this head on.”