THOUSANDS of pounds are being injected into Bromley borough to combat a sharp rise in burglaries.

Bromley is one of only 33 areas in the country to receive the Home Office funding because its burglary figures have shot up by 29 per cent compared to the same period last year.

In the past three months there have been 426 of these crimes whereas from April to June last year there were 330.

This figure is very different from the burglary target which is to cut the number by at least two per cent every year.

The Safer Bromley Partnership had to apply for the money from the Government and it is expected to receive between £50,000 and £100,000.

It is thought the cash will be spent on targeting repeat offenders.

Partnership chairman Councillor Colin Bloom said: “I’d like to make it clear that Bromley has not been chosen to receive support because crime is high.

“Quite the contrary.

“We have a relatively low level of crime and are still one of the safest boroughs in London.

“Despite this, I welcome this injection of funding to help tackle the emerging challenges of burglary in the borough.

“Residents can rest assured that we will, as always, work to achieve the best possible value from this funding.

“We are committed to keeping our borough safe and we will invest in a range of activities and initiatives involving members of the Partnership to nip any increases in the bud.”

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Smart, head of Bromley Police's CID, said: “Bromley, like numerous other boroughs throughout the country, are seeing a rise in burglary offences and we will continue to relentlessly pursue those who commit offences on the borough and put them before the courts.

“This money will assist us in targeting our resources at the few prolific burglars who commit a disproportionate number of offences."