There were eight burglaries in Otley in December during what was otherwise a quiet month for crime.

New police figures show that three of the eight break-ins – on West View, Falcon Close and The Whartons – involved europrofile locks, which can have a weakness which is known about and exploited by intruders, being targeted.

There were two instances of criminal damage reported, both involving cars.

One involved flammable liquid being poured over a Volkswagen Passat on Athelstan Lane. The car was then set alight and badly damaged, as was a neighbouring vehicle.

No vehicles were stolen during the month and there were no robberies, but there were four instances of cars being broken into and property stolen, on The Crossways, on Mariner Close, and at the Waitrose supermarket car park.

Metal and garden ornament thieves, meanwhile, continued to operate in the area during December and stole radiators from the side of a house on Sunnydale Crescent, a garden bench from West Chevin Road, a cast-iron table and planter from Bondgate, and a garden ornament from Leeds Road.