Millionaire property mogul Fergus Wilson says the solution to the high number of unsolved burglaries is "self help."

The 70-year-old, a one time Kent Police and Crime Commissioner hopeful disqualified for a previous conviction for assaulting a lettings agent, says CCTV is the answer to "woefully low" detection rates.

Recent figures revealed that only 3.8% of burglaries in Kent result in a charge.

They come shortly after Boris Johnson promised an extra 20,000 police officers on the street and Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick lamented the ineffectiveness of police nationally.

Mr Wilson, who lives with his wife Judith in Boughton Monchelsea, was recently a victim of a burglary himself.

Cash and a camera were stolen from their Pees Lane home between 11.45am and 12.10pm on Saturday, June 29 when the couple went out to post a letter.

The controversial character, who amassed an empire of around 1,000 buy-to-let homes in Ashford and Maidstone has used his wealth in an attempt to track down the culprit by offering a £10,000 reward.

Admitting that not everyone has the means for such ostentatious crime-fighting strategies, Mr Wilson insists that adopting the latest CCTV technology is the way forward for rural communities to tackle break-ins.

"I think self help is the answer. You can't rely on the police because of the lack of finance," he said.

"You can't expect the police to drive around every county lane, they don't have the resources so there has to be a self help situation.

"It's very helpful if you have CCTV in this day and age. It's very important that you have the latest technology so you can recognise people and hopefully it will act as a deterrent."

Kent Police assistant chief constable for local policing Nicola Faulconbridge said: "Overt and covert tactics are used to target burglars and DNA opportunities, where available, are explored. All reports are investigated, along with advice and support always offered to victims of burglary.

"Seasonal campaigns consisting of enforcement, deterrence and prevention, such as Operation Castle, are used to catch burglars and bring them to justice as well as raise awareness of the steps households and business can take to protect themselves, deter intruders and make their properties less attractive to burglars."

She added that Kent Police is committed to tackling break-ins but a charge is just one of 21 possible outcomes.

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