Police in Bradford are claiming a major success in fighting crime with just one burglary and one robbery reported across the city in a 24-hour period this week.

Figures show that from 7am on Tuesday to 7am on Wednesday there were no burglaries, robberies or vehicles stolen in the area covered by the Bradford North police division and only five reports of cars having been broken into.

In the Bradford South division, three vehicles were stolen, six broken into and there was one burglary and one robbery.

The alleged robbery occurred near to Bradford Interchange at approximately 12.30pm on Tuesday.

By 3.30pm the police had arrested two youths, aged 14 and 16, on suspicion of committing the robbery.

The 14-year-old has been released on police bail pending further inquiries and the 16-year-old remains in police custody.

Detective Chief Inspector John Lazenby, crime manager for Bradford North, said: "In that 24 hours the city of Bradford has suffered only one house burglary. When you take into account that there are just short of 300,000 people living in these two divisions, that is very good news.

"These figures show that crime isn't as bad in Bradford as people perceive. Police across the district are performing very strongly and by targeting persistent offenders we are having success.

"This achievement reflects the hard work of the police and partner agencies in driving down crime."

He added: "This time last year, the figure was 20 burglaries per night in Bradford North."

In his division since April this year, the number of burglaries has fallen by 370 compared to the same period last year.

From April 2003 to April this year there were 2,200 burglaries in the Bradford North division, a 38 per cent reduction on the previous year.

Det Chief Insp Lazenby said that the reduction was the result of an ongoing attempt to cut crime using a number of disruptive techniques.

One of these involved targeting a list of 60 offenders who were involved with priority crime such as car crime, burglary and robbery.

The list was drawn up by police intelligence and has been split between the divisions in the district.

Det Chief Insp Lazenby said: "All those we suspect of committing offences are regularly visited and told we suspect them of crimes and that they are being carefully monitored."

Det Chief Insp Lazenby said the scheme could be expanded to target more people if it proved a success.

The Bradford North division, which includes Undercliffe, Manningham, Girlington, Queensbury, Eccleshill, Ravenscliffe and Apperley Bridge, covers a population of 175,000 and 66,800 homes.

Bradford South Division stretches from the city centre to Low Moor, and includes Holme Wood, Buttershaw, West and East Bowling, Wibsey, Wyke and Bierley. It has a population of 120,000 and just under 50,000 homes.