THE BURGLARY HOTSPOTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES

THE EXACT AREAS WHERE POLICE ARE FAILING TO CATCH ANY OFFENDERS

- By RICHARD AULT

IF you were a burglar looking for a home to target, you might think twice about venturing into Miss Marple’s neighbourhood.

But new crime figures show that the pretty village where the BBC filmed the classic Agatha Christie drama is actually one of the nation's burglary hotspots.

Last year, 98 burglaries were reported in the Nether Wallop area of Hampshire, but not a single one resulted in a charge or caution.

The numbers were revealed in an interactive crime map that shows the local neighbourhoods where police fail to catch burglars.

In total, 234,000 burglaries were reported in England and Wales last year - and of these only five per cent, or around 12,000, resulted in a charge or caution.

These figures cover all break-ins, including sheds, outhouses, offices and commercial buildings, as well as residential burglaries.

Analysis of crime statistics compiled by police forces shows that burglary rates are highest in parts of central London and many city centre districts.

But the map of break-ins also shows how residential neighbourhoods are blighted by burglars, and how the thieves are mostly getting away with their crimes.