POLICE in the south of the Island have warned that the number of instances of theft in the area has risen.

And Inspector Mark Newey of the Southern Neighbourhood Policing Team said many of the cases are preventable.

He explained: "The number of incidents where a theft has occurred has risen recently compared to previous times.

"When these have been reviewed a significant number of these crimes were preventable - by putting items back into sheds or garages, locking vehicles and not giving those opportunist thieves an easy target.

"By looking after what we each own or use we can reduce the number of such incidents."

Inspector Newey also thanked the public in the south of the Island for helping the police to catch those responsible for a number of burglaries from un-occupied properties in Port Erin.

He continued: "I would like to pass on my thanks to all those that have made calls to the station or stopped officers while they have been on patrol and supplied us with information.

"As a result of the information we received my team were able to identify the four individuals responsible and they have all been interviewed and admitted their part in the offences."