POLICE are on the prowl in a part of York in a bid to prevent homeowners becoming victims of theft during the summer months.

Officers in Micklegate say as the temperatures soar and days get longer, sheds and garages are targeted by opportunist thieves.

Now police in the area are branching out on city-wide Operation Joypad – which involves officers checking homes to check whether they have been left with unlocked doors – and testing to see if garages, sheds and allotments are left secure.

The three-day scheme will begin tonight. Police will be checking the safety of garages and sheds until Monday.

As part of the operation, officers will look for items such as garden tools left on display and test doors and windows to see whether doors are locked. If not, officers then ring homeowners doorbells to advise them that their garages and sheds are a prime target for burglars.

They will also be handing out more than 350 signs whcih read: “There is no valuable property left here”.

PCSO Rachel Shaw said: “For some reason during the summer months, when the days are longer, people tend to leave their garages, sheds and allotments insecure – making them a prime target for burglars.

“We will be therefore checking the security of these at people’s homes and if left insecure we will speak to homeowners about crime prevention and how to avoid being a victim of theft.

Operation Joypad was an initiative launched in September 2008 as part of a bid to bring down burglaries in Micklegate by teaching residents on how to keep their homes secure. A high percentage of burglaries are the sneak-in type through doors that are closed but not locked.

For more information, phone 0845 6060247.