THE number of house burglaries in Herefordshire has gone down by 50% in just three years.

According to figures released by the Herefordshire Community Policing Board, there were 324 recorded house burglaries for the year ending in March - 48 fewer than in the previous year and half of 2004's tally.

There were also fewer burglaries of non-domestic premises, with 137 fewer cases than in 2006, a reduction of 14%.

Bernard Hunt, chair of the board, said: "Herefordshire now suffers less than one domestic burglary per day.

"However, recently the number of some other types of burglary, for example tools stolen from sheds, has increased.

"Although many people take steps to protect their homes and the property inside them, they leave valuable equipment in gardens and unsecured sheds, providing easy pickings for opportunist thieves.

"I would urge people to look out for the garden crime campaign leaflets produced by police, or visit the force website at www.westmercia.police.uk to find out what they can do to help prevent this type of crime in their garden."