Too hot to handle

Equally, when there is a mountain bike being sold by a stranger in the pub, or a cheap jar of coffee being offered on their doorstep, it's often a case of 'no questions asked.'

Television abounds with images of colourful characters shifting a bit of knock-off gear - dodgy dealers Del Boy and Rodney became national heroes in Only Fools and Horses as they wheeled and dealed to escape turning an honest buck. Even Heartbeat's light-fingered Greengrass is another loveable TV rogue.

Along with the Trotters his name has fallen into common parlance for shady deals and he has become not only a celebrity but also a tourist attraction on the North York Moors where the series is filmed.

But TV drama is a million miles from the heart-wrenching effect theft has on its victims. There is no such thing as a victimless crime and York police aim to redefine the line between picking up genuine bargains and fencing stolen property.

The Too Hot To Handle campaign, launched today in partnership with the Safer York Partnership and the Evening Press, will make a two-pronged attack on illegal trading.

It will raise awareness of the origins of that too-good-to-be-legal deal to prick consciences and will also get tough on enforcement.

In some cases dealing in stolen goods carries stiffer penalties than the actual theft itself, because the courts believe those passing on the goods are supporting criminal behaviour.

More often than not that unbelievable bargain will have cost someone dearly.

In financial terms alone, burglary costs a fortune - a major survey commissioned by General Accident (GA) last year showed the average loss in a domestic burglary amounts to £2,259.

And with repairs the total is nearer £3,000 for every break in.

Burglaries also leave a trail of human devastation in their wake. The survey revealed that more than a third of burglary victims were so upset by having had intruders in their home that they would move house if they could.

York Police community safety officer Jonathon Charlton, who worked on the repeat victimisation scheme which aimed to stop houses from being targeted by burglars time and time again, knows first hand the misery that can be caused.

"Apart from the financial cost of burglary there are the less obvious, tangible human costs to victims," he said.

"This is exacerbated by repeat victimisation and while one burglary may have devastating effects on victims, two, three or more can seriously affect a person's ability to function.

"I have come across cases where people suffered serious health problems because of the stress and anxiety caused by crime and the fear of it being repeated."

Mr Charlton's experiences are supported by the findings of the GA survey which concluded that the psychological and emotional trauma of burglary on its victims is severe.

It revealed that:

74 per cent felt 'violated and invaded'

46 per cent suffered nervousness and anxiety

45 per cent thought the burglars would return

30 per cent suffered a general loss of confidence

Every day the Evening Press routinely runs a list of overnight burglaries in the hope of alerting readers who might be approached with stolen property.

But behind each 'burglars broke into a house and stole...' report is the horror of someone coming home and confronting the desecration.

They fear the burglars may still be in the house, or that they could return and then there is the cost of trying to make their home secure. The victim then has to check what is missing and sort out insurance.

There is still the image of the gentleman thief, the Raffles-type cat burglar - but more often than not doors are simply kicked in and windows smashed.

One young mother, fearful of being named, is now keen to leave York after having her back door kicked in twice while she and her young family were asleep in the house.

The house has also been the target for several attempted burglaries.

"Every time I leave the house - even if I've only gone to the shops - I am scared about what I will find when I get home," she said.

"As soon as I turn the corner at the top of our street I can feel the anxiety in my chest and my heart pounds the closer I get to the front door - although I tell myself not to be so stupid. I always make a lot of noise as I go in, so if there is anyone in the house they will know we're back and hopefully make a run for it out the back.

"I have a lot of pictures of the family and things on the walls but now nothing is private anymore. I don't really feel safe anywhere and when my partner's away I just can't sleep.

"But I don't like to talk to him about it because we can't sell the house and things are pretty tight for money and this would just more pressure on him."

House burglaries have been reduced in the city, Superintedent Jim Kilmartin has just announced a fall of 12 per cent in the last quarter, compared with the same period last year.

By targeting the criminal rather than the crime, York Police picked up some of the city's most prolific thieves by keeping up constant pressure.

The Too Hot To Handle campaign aims to build on police successes so far by putting the screws on in a new area - leaving the thieves no easy way of converting their 'knock-off gear' into quick cash.

Supt Kilmartin aims to leave no stone unturned while tracking down the receivers of stolen property, whether it has been taken from homes or businesses.

And it is not only secondhand dealers who will be coming under scrutiny. Pubs will be asked to back the campaign by displaying posters making it clear no dealing is welcome on the premises.

People who buy a cheap packet of soap powder, coffee or whatever, from someone on their doorstep will be made aware of the penalties they face.

More often than not these doorstep deals are being used to fuel drug habits and other forms of serious crime in the city.

Supt Kilmartin's thinking is simple - if people did not buy stolen goods it would not be worth the thieves stealing them in the first place.

Now he aims to turn up the heat on the burglars who cause such heartache.

see COMMENT 'Just say no to 'knock-offs''

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