Operation Blue Instinct aiming to reduce twilight burglaries in Flintshire

North Wales Police will carry out night time patrols in residential areas to help prevent twilight burglaries.

The darker evenings during the autumn and winter months can lead to rise in opportunistic thieves targeting homes.

Operation Blue Instinct, that launches annually in Flintshire North as the nights begin to draw in earlier, is a multi-agency operation focusing on education and aims to reduce victims and target those that cause communities most harm.

Engagement events will be held across the area the coming weeks and months to provide advice and support, while officers will also be leaving leaflets at properties that appear unoccupied.

Flintshire North Patrol Sergeant, David Smith said: “The aim of Op Blue Instinct is to prevent burglary offences and protect vulnerable residents by reducing victims and targeting those that cause our community most harm.

“Burglary offences are a real intrusion into privacy, and they can really affect people badly which is why we do all we can to prevent those types of crimes.

“We ask residents to take simple, but effective steps to protect their property.

“This operation is primarily about prevention – the more people that are aware and vigilant, the less opportunity there will be opportunist thieves.

“Make your home somewhere burglars don’t want to go.”

For further crime prevention advice and information, visit the North Wales Police website:

To look out for your neighbours and help make your street a safer place to live, you can also join a neighbourhood watch scheme.