A Murston man has been arrested as part of a police crackdown.

Oak Road resident Cameron Hook, 18, is accused of receiving stolen goods.He is due to appear at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on April 3.

Police launched an operation after Christmas in response to an increase in call-outs to reports of break-ins.

The increase was due to opportunistic thieves taking advantage of the dark nights and high-value presents left on display.

Officers carried out a number of uniformed and covert operations. A number of arrests were made across Swale, Gravesham, Dartford and Medway.

DCI Ann Lisseman, head of the burglary team in the north division, said: “Every report of this nature is taken extremely seriously.

“However, residents can take steps to protect themselves, too. Expensive items should be photographed and recorded, including serial numbers, to make them easier to trace if they are stolen.”

In the past 15 months, the News Extra has been made aware of more than 500 burglaries and attempted break-ins across the area.

The latest incidents are as follows:

Attempted garage burglary in Canterbury Road, Bapchild, between January 25 and 26 –
reference number XY/003122/14.

Several tools stolen from a garage in Reams Way, Kemsley, between 7.15pm and 9pm on January 28 – XY/003328/14.

Window damaged during an attempted burglary at a tool hire company in Vicarage Road, Milton Regis, between January 28 and 29 – XY/003346/14.

Twenty zebra finches, two canaries, one java sparrow and one finch were stolen from a cage in a back garden cottage at Milstead, between 8.30am and 1.30pm on January 29 – XY/003433/14.

A back garden summer house burgled in Rolvenden Drive, Sittingbourne, between January 30 and 31 – XY/003618/14.

A door was damaged during an attempted burglary in Court Road, Milton Regis, between 2.30pm and 9pm on February 1 – XY/003787/14.

Camera stolen during a burglary in Tonge Road, Murston, between noon and 7pm on January 30 – XY/003548/14.

Anyone with any information, should call police on 101 quoting the relevant reference number.