BURGLARY in the county has plummeted by thousands of cases to a 10-year low, according to Dorset Police.

There were just 1,739 recorded burglaries in Dorset during 2007-08 – compared to 6,420 in 1995-96.

Now officers are urging people to keep an eye on their properties as the credit crunch continues.

Detective Chief Inspector Ben Hargreaves, of Dorset Police, said: “We have no evidence that suggests burglary goes up during the Easter period.

“However in a recession there is an increased likelihood that individuals will commit crime to fund their lifestyle.”

During the past three months 12 people have been arrested for suspected burglary in the Dorset County division.

Several others have been brought to justice for burglary and criminal damage in the area, which excludes Bournemouth and Poole.

Peter Osmer, 36, of Portland, was found hiding in a sewer by officers after a police chase into a disused factory on the island last November.

He was given a suspended 12-month prison sentence at Dorchester Crown Court last week after admitting four burglary charges and one criminal damage charge.

Burglar Anthony Knight, 25, from Lyme Regis, was caught after officers followed his footprints from his house to the crime scene in fresh snow in March.

He was jailed for four years at Dorchester Crown Court last month after pleading guilty to two counts of burglary and one of attempted burglary.

Dorset officers have also been involved in the Prolific and Other Priority Offenders Scheme, a multi-agency rehabilitation project.

The initiative is aimed at offenders who commit a high amount of crime, usually to feed their drug habits.

Eight offenders in Dorset were successfully removed from the scheme from January to March as a result of their work.

Det Chief Insp Hargreaves added: “Can I ask that both residents and business owners keep an eye on their surroundings and their neighbours.

“We need to continue to work together to help keep our communities safe and reduce burglary even further.”

Dorset crime reduction advisor Mark Harper added: “We could almost halve house burglaries if residents locked their back door when enjoying the sun in the garden.

“This is probably the most preventable crime there is, it’s a case of developing good security habits.”