OPERATION Bumblebee, the Met’s initiative to tackle the 25 per cent rise in home burglaries traditionally seen during autumn and winter, starts today.

As the clocks go back next weekend, nights draw in and homes remain in darkness for longer, it makes them easier targets.

One third of burglaries show no signs of forced entry, suggesting either doors or windows were not properly secured.

Police will be using traditional tactics and science and technology during the operation.

Specialist manhunt teams will be deployed to track down the most evasive wanted suspects, while high visibility patrols will take place in burglary hot spot.

The Met is using predictive crime mapping, which takes historic crime data and models the likely locations of future criminal acts.

It can produce automated crime maps for every ward in London, covering 14 different crimes.

Officers will be using ‘super cocooning’ to support victims and prevent offences in the surrounding neighbourhood as, following a burglary, it is not uncommon that burglars will target a number of houses in the same street.

This works by encouraging neighbours to be extra vigilant and security conscious.

Safer Neighbourhood Teams pay a home visit to victims and their neighbours, as soon as possible after an offence is reported, to give crime prevention advice and gather local intelligence, while patrols are stepped up in the area.

Free traceable liquid marking systems are available, so people can mark property with a unique code identifiable to any policeman or second-hand goods buyer.

The Met also maps second-hand markets, negotiating a voluntary code of conduct for dealers to record sellers' personal details.

Commander Simon Letchford, leading Operation Bumblebee, said: "Burglary can have a long-lasting emotional impact on victims, leaving them feeling isolated and vulnerable.

"Burglaries in London are at the lowest level in 40 years and we have introduced a range of pro-active measures and use innovative technology to tackle offences, but there are still too many people falling victim to burglary and there is more to do.”