Burnley named burglary capital of England and Wales

London, Feb 06 (ANI): Burnley, a provincial town, has been named the burglary capital of England and Wales. atest figures released by New Home Office claims that one person in every 40 in the Lancashire town of Burnley was burgled over a 12-month period.

The statistics showed 2,154 break-ins between April 2008 and 2009, at a rate of 24.6 per 1,000 people, or one in every 40.

Manchester and Nottingham followed Burnley with 23.7 and 22.3 per 1,000 respectively.

Burnley's local politicians blame drug addicts for the bad record.

"They have to get their fix somehow and where else are they going to get money other than break-ins?" the Daily Express quoted councillor Charlie Briggs as saying.

Also, Council leader Gordon Birt-wistle said: "The fact that a lot of people are being put out of work could also be a reason. Generally, when unemployment goes up, crime goes up."

However Chief Inspector Jon Bullas insists the situation had improved since April due to the introduction of many safety measures, like installing crime prevention devices in vulnerable homes. (ANI)