'Psychic' cops launch blitz on burglars

Oct 31 2006 By Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail

POLICE are using Minority Report-style detective work to beat the burglar.

With the help of sophisticated research, officers believe they can predict where sneaky housebreakers will strike next.

They can then use that information to boost patrols and warn residents of the danger and how to stay secure.

It echoes the crimefighting work in the Hollywood block-buster Minority Report starring Tom Cruise as a cop able to prevent murder.

The operation is based on an anti-burglar blitz launched by Cleveland Police that succeeded in slashing crime.

Stechford police are now looking to mirror the success.

Codenamed Yanquis, the operation is based on research by the Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science set up in honour of the murdered TV presenter.

Analysts found that following a burglary, houses within a 200-metre radius were most likely to be targeted next.

PC Paul Atherton, based at Stechford police station, said: "The burglary initiative team at Stechford has successfully kept the number of burglaries below average in this area with a nine-per-cent year-on-year reduction.

"This new initiative has been launched to continue this success and make Stechford and surrounding areas a hard target for burglars."

Operation Yanquis will run for eight weeks.