POLICE have put on display a massive haul of stolen property recovered following a major crackdown on house burglaries in York.

Thousands of pounds worth of equipment - stolen from properties in The Groves - were displayed at Fulford Police Station following an operation last week.

Three men have been charged in connection with the burglaries, which included the theft of video recorders, cameras, jewellery and clothing.

Police are convinced that a major rise in burglaries is connected to a massive increase of the highly-addictive drug crack cocaine on York's streets.

The total value of the drug seized in York last year was £1,500, but in only the last three months, £40,000 worth of the drug was recovered in the city.

There were 283 house burglaries in the York area in February, compared to 129 in the same month last year.

Meanwhile, a haul of power tools is at Fulford Police Station after it was dumped by a man chased by police.

The find was made after officers arrested the man in the South Bank area of York.

He had abandoned property which was found to include the tools.

Detective Constable Rob Eden said: "They could have come from the back of a builder's van. I'm hoping that somebody might recognise them.

"They were found after a person was seen acting suspiciously in the South Bank area of York. He was chased and dumped a lot of property. When we examined it, we found these tools."

Anybody who recognises the tools is asked to contact York Police on 01904 631321.

Updated: 11:16 Tuesday, March 19, 2002