CRIME levels in St Albans fell by nearly seven per cent overall in the last eight months – but the number of house burglaries has risen. Herts Police recorded 549 fewer crimes in the district between April 2007 and January 2008 than between April 2006 and

CRIME levels in St Albans fell by nearly seven per cent overall in the last eight months - but the number of house burglaries has risen.

Herts Police recorded 549 fewer crimes in the district between April 2007 and January 2008 than between April 2006 and January 2007.

Vehicle crime, robberies, and serious violent crime such as grievous bodily harm also fell and there were 424 fewer violent crimes such as actual bodily harm.

But the number of residential burglaries rose from 326 to 365 which a Herts Police spokesperson said was hard to explain because figures tended to fluctuate year on year. This was often caused by specific groups of people moving in and out of the area.

She put the fall in crime down in part to Operation Rhino in St Albans city centre where specialist patrols had been going out at pub closing time to combat drink-related violence.