Home   Bury St Edmunds   News   Article

Subscribe Now

Number of unsolved burglaries in Suffolk revealed, including in Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury and Haverhill, Stowmarket, Mildenhall and Ipswich




A senior police officer has said bringing burglars to justice is a number one priority after it was revealed nearly 10,000 burglaries have gone unsolved in the last five years.

Since 2019, 13,127 burglaries were reported across Suffolk and 9,841 during these years saw investigations closed without a suspect being identified, a Freedom of Information request by SuffolkNews has found.

Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Hinitt, of Suffolk Police’s criminal investigations department, acknowledged it was a big figure, but said their number one priority was improving outcomes and detection rates for victims.

Since 2019, 13,127 burglaries were reported across Suffolk and 9,841 during these years saw investigations closed without a suspect being identified, a Freedom of Information request by SuffolkNews has found. Picture: iStock
Since 2019, 13,127 burglaries were reported across Suffolk and 9,841 during these years saw investigations closed without a suspect being identified, a Freedom of Information request by SuffolkNews has found. Picture: iStock

“We’re working really hard for positive outcomes for victims,” he said.

“I would really like to see burglary outcomes get higher – it isn’t for want of trying.

“They’re the victims where we’ve not been able to get them the outcomes they want and that hurts. It does hurt. I don’t want people to be broken into and not have the closure.”

Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Hinitt, of the Criminal Investigations Department. Picture: Suffolk Constabulary
Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Hinitt, of the Criminal Investigations Department. Picture: Suffolk Constabulary

By area, the total number of burglaries between 2019 to now and the number of unsolved cases recorded in these years were:
→ Bury St Edmunds - 1,105 (total) / 763 (unsolved)
→ Sudbury and Haverhill - 1,530 / 1,178
→ Stowmarket - 1,259 / 1,054
→ Mildenhall - 1,271 / 981
→ Ipswich Central - 934 / 589
→ Lowestoft - 1,889 / 1,280

The number of burglaries recorded annually has fallen from 3,373 in 2019, 2,682 in 2020, 1,989 in 2021, 1,907 in 2022, 1,918 last year and 1,258 so far this year. Picture: iStock
The number of burglaries recorded annually has fallen from 3,373 in 2019, 2,682 in 2020, 1,989 in 2021, 1,907 in 2022, 1,918 last year and 1,258 so far this year. Picture: iStock

Across Suffolk, the total number of cases resulting in a charge, summons or postal requisition stood at 758.

There were 954 incidents where a named suspect was identified and a victim supported police action, but evidential difficulties prevented further action.

However, the number of burglaries recorded annually has fallen from 3,373 in 2019 to 2,682 in 2020, 1,989 in 2021, 1,907 in 2022, 1,918 last year and 1,258 so far this year.

Mr Hinitt said house burglaries were investigated by a detective and about one in 10 were solved.

The detection rate for the last 12 months was 11.7 per cent, while the long term average over five years was 11.5 per cent.

“Our force priorities are definitely about improving outcomes for victims, improving our solve rates,” he said.

There can also be a lag from a suspect being arrested to an outcome, while sometimes further offences could be taken into consideration for previous years if a suspected serial burglar was caught.

The difficulty, he said, came in the more random and ad hoc cases, such as shed break-ins.

The largest number of house break-ins occurred where a window had been left open at night or the home was unoccupied during the day and burglars forced their way in at the back of the property.

“I don’t want people to think it’s their fault because they haven’t got an alarm – a burglar is going to burgle a house if they want to,” said Mr Hinitt.

“For me it’s about making your house as least appealing as possible (to burglars).”

This includes installing a home alarm system, outside lighting and padlocks on sheds.

With more people working from home following the Covid-19 pandemic, there were more eyes and ears in a neighbourhood and the number of burglaries had reduced, he said.

Asked what was being done to increase detection rates, Mr Hinitt said there was a focus on building the investigative skills of new and younger officers.

The emphasis was on the initial response such as forensics, viewing CCTV and making house to house inquiries.

He said: “As we develop our techniques, the burglars are also developing theirs and we have to be one step ahead.

“We’re constantly up against the changing nature of people being forensically aware.

“We’re constantly developing our techniques to keep ahead of the game.”

As a reader, we know the value you place on trusted local journalism. At SuffolkNews we are committed to delivering the very best coverage from communities right across the county, and we can only do this with the support of our readers. By becoming a subscriber you not only support us in this mission, you also unlock a whole host of benefits, including unlimited access to our ad-lite SuffolkNews website and digital editions of all our weekly newspapers. You can find out more about subscriptions here.

Use the promo code PaulDerrick to get an annual subscription for less than £25 – we really appreciate your support. Thank you