NINE people have been arrested and two charged with burglary during a police crackdown.
During the past few weeks, there has been a rise in the number of burglaries in Houghton and Hetton.
To tackle the rise in crime, police have launched Operation Jaguar.
Extra uniform and plain-clothes officers will be on patrol in areas most affected, to target those suspected of being responsible and reassure the community.
Members of the public are being urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity as well as make sure they keep their properties secure.
“Being broken into can be incredibly distressing,” said Houghton Neighbourhood Inspector Lisa Musgrove.
“We’re doing everything we can to make sure those suspected of being responsible are put before the courts.
“We want residents to help us and if they see anything suspicious or people hanging around and behaving suspiciously, they should report it to police straight away.
“If we know about it we can find out and take action to prevent a crime happening in the first instance.”
She added: “Burglars should be warned that we are targeting them and are carrying out a lot of activity to put a stop to their behaviour.
“People can also help by taking measures to deter thieves – make sure doors and windows are securely locked and valuable items are not on display and fit good-quality alarms.”
For more crime prevention advice visit www.northumbria.police.uk.