CRIME in the north of York has soared by almost 30 per cent in the last five months, according to new figures.

House burglaries rose by 50 per cent between April and September compared to last year, while auto crime saw an increase of 31 per cent.

More than 60,000 people live in north York, which includes Huntington, Rawcliffe, Clifton and Skelton.

Chief Inspector Andy Bell, who has recently taken charge of the area, said the shock rise could be explained by a lack of police resources, public complacency and last year's "exceptionally good" crime figures.

He told a meeting of the area's community and police group in Skelton village hall that crime had still dropped by 40 per cent over the last three years.

There were 2,018 reported crimes in north York between April and September, compared to 1,531 in the same period last year.

There were also 153 house burglaries between April and September compared to 106 last year - an increase of 50 per cent.

Meanwhile, cases of auto crime in north York rose from 271 between April and September last year to 356 this year.

Mr Bell explained that resources had been stretched because several area officers had been seconded to work on the murder inquiry in Huby and the Bradford riots.

He added that the public had become "complacent" about looking after their property.

He told the meeting: "This is a worrying increase because reducing crime is what we're all about.

"But the police can't work alone. At least 20 per cent of the house burglaries were sneak-in thefts where doors had been left open.

"We can't do it on our own - the public and the police must work together.

"Our resources are now back to full strength so hopefully things will improve."

Coun Peter Vaughan, who chaired the meeting, said: "Too often, residents are irresponsible with their property and leave an open invitation for criminals to come and burgle their house and car."

The chairman of Huntington Parish Council, Eurig Thomas, asked: "These increases are astronomical - why is there such a rise in our area compared to others?"

Updated: 11:07 Tuesday, September 11, 2001