POLICE in Truro are reporting a dramatic fall in the number of homes targeted by burglars in the last seven months.

Figures released by the Devon and Cornwall Police show there were 28 domestic burglaries across Truro since April, compared with 58 over the same period last year.

Inspector Mark Richards said the 52 per cent drop - to about one burglary per week throughout Truro - was down to a number of factors.

"We know that some of our committed career burglars are in prison, but there is also increased public awareness and more home security," he said. "No one area seems to be targeted, they have the hallmarks of opportunist burglaries. There is nothing to show that a pattern is emerging."

In contrast, Penzance has seen a 67 per cent rise in burglaries – 66 last year to 110 this year. Newquay was up from 43 to 73 burglaries so far this year.

Camborne has recorded a 22 per cent fall from 151 in 2009 to 118 this year.

But there has been a spate of burglaries in St Mawes, where one criminal seems to have targeted three holiday homes, stealing a flat screen television and other unidentified items last weekend.

In a separate raid on Monday night burglars broke into a terraced house on Mitchell Hill, Truro, making off with antiques worth more than £4,000 while the owner slept upstairs.

Among the items was a 2ft bronze statute (pictured above) called Antoine Bofill L'Epave, worth £3,500 .