A SENIOR police officer has said catching the criminals responsible for around 20 burglaries in Monmouth is top priority.

Chief Inspector Mick Moyles said officers were being diverted from other parts of Monmouthshire to increase police visibility in the Osbaston area where the burglaries have taken place.

Last Friday he joined Monmouth MP David Davies in a walkabout around the area handing out leaflets advising householders on how not to become a victim.

He said: "We are now on 20 burglaries since June and it's top of our our agenda, the numbers are way too high.

"Everything I can throw at it from a local perspective I am and everything the force can throw at it is being done.

"I'm diverting resources from other parts of Monmouthshire and there is somebody in Osbaston during every shift."

He said on one weekend recently there were 14 community support officers in the area and the automatic number plate recognition team is regularly on patrol.

There have been some 50 calls to the police since coverage was stepped up "but we want that one call which says there are boys on my drive now."

The gang – which may be as many as five burglars – tends to strike when houses are clearly empty.

Ch Insp Moyles said: "A lot of the houses were clearly in darkness and we are encouraging people to leave the lights on."

The police also have a list of houses where owners are away for any length of time.

He added: "This is high visibility policing but fear of crime comes with it – it's a double-edged sword but it's the right thing to do at the moment because we want to reassure people."

Mr Davies said: "The recent spate of burglaries taking place in Osbaston is of great concern.

"It would appear these burglaries are the handiwork of professional criminals.

"They are carefully targeting houses in which the owners are out. The likelihood is they will have knocked on other doors in the same street.

"I would therefore strongly urge people to make a careful note and description of any unusual or unexplained callers."