A COUNCILLOR has joined with local police in warning people not to take the law into their own hands and try to catch thieves after a spike in burglaries in the town.

A post on the Whitehall Area Darwen Neighbourhood Group sparked reaction after some residents said they had had enough after recent incidents and they were looking for people who were ‘willing to walk the streets to catch these scumbags who are burgling homes’.

Cllr John East responded calling on people to report crimes to the neighbourhood team.

He said: “Please do not take the law into your own hands.

“I have every confidence that local police can and should deal with criminal activities.”

Cllr East echoed the comments of Sergeant Shaun Pearson of the Darwen and Rurals Neighbourhood Policing Team.

He said: “The police are aware of a recent spike in house burglaries in the Whitehall area.

“Since October 31st there have been three, as well as the reports of persons with faces covered in a rear garden on Woodville.

“Kingdom Hall has also been broken into with damage caused internally and a container at the recycling centre has been forced open.

“Please be assured Whitehall is on the hotspot tasking profile for Darwen.

“There are specific areas for officers to patrol to prevent crime and stop persons/vehicles.

“We are also pro-actively targeting people we think are actively disrupting (with) their behaviour.

“I would like to dissuade local residents from patrolling their streets looking to catch people and invoke their own justice.

“Yes, be neighbourly, look out for each other, report ongoing crimes or people about to commit on 999, for anything else be patient with 101 or use the online reporting system.”

He added: “The Neighbourhood Policing Team try to be visible and accessible but we cannot always be reading Facebook groups to see what is really going on in the community.”

If you wish to contact your local neighbourhood team leave a message on222135 or email DarwenandRural.NPT@lancashire.pnn.police.uk.