FIVE people have been arrested during an operation aiming to cut burglary in Bracknell.

Operation Ladybird is an initiative focussing on offender management - targeting prolific offenders across Bracknell Forest - helping to prevent, disrupt and detect burglary and to proactively manage and disrupt offenders by visiting them each day, and to deploy number plate recognition technology to combat offenders using cars.

Det Insp Mick Squire of Bracknell CID said: "We are very pleased with the results of Operation Ladybird, and it is something that we will continue to repeat on an ongoing basis to target prolific offenders in the area." Two men, one aged 33, from London, and another aged 32, from Slough, were arrested on suspicion of burglary on 21/1. Both were bailed to report back to Maidenhead police station 9/2.

Two men, one aged 20, from Slough, and one aged 24, from Windsor, and a 16-year-boy, from Slough, were arrested on suspicion of going equipped on 16/1. All were bailed to report back to Loddon Valley police station on 14/2.

A number of subjects were visited who were previously linked to overnight crime and drugs to ensure there were complying with their orders and in conjunction with our partners to provide support to those persons from drugs and alcohol team (New Hope).

During the week 14 to 20 January 2013, there were 4 burglary dwellings reported, whereas last year during the same period, there were 11, which equates to a reduction of 64% this year.

The detection rate for burglary currently stands at 34%, which is the highest of any Local Policing Area (LPA) in Thames Valley Police.