BURGLARS are targeting Shipley and Bingley and carrying out a new type of break-in by clambering up on first floor balconies and entering homes through unlocked windows.

Police liaison officers have warned local Neighbourhood Watch groups that this new crime wave is building in the run-up to Christmas and urged them to use a brand new number to report suspicious activity.

"Over the last two weeks we have seen an increase in Burglary Dwellings where the entry point has been through and/or via insecure Juliet Balconies," said the warning issued yesterday.

Juliet balconies - named after Shakespeare's teenage heroine - are the small metalwork type which often decorate the upper floors of modern flats and houses.

"This has been particularly in the Shipley and Bingley areas, but everyone needs to be aware of this MO.

"There have been five or six in the last two weeks, two being in Shipley yesterday!" the email stated.

Both the Shipley burglaries took place overnight between Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7.

In the first incident, suspects entered a flat by climbing up to the balcony at the rear of a property in Dock Lane, Shipley and then through the unlocked door windows.

They made off with an expensive flat screen TV and remote control.

The second raid took place at a flat in View Croft Road, Shipley when thieves scaled the building and again came in through an insecure Juliet balcony.

This time a Dell laptop computer was taken and also the keys for Renault Twingo, which they then used to drive away.

Advice to Neighbourhood Watch members is that the problem will be on the increase in the run up to Christmas:

"It is suspected that offenders will be climbing up to lots of balconies before finding the one that is insecure, so can we please ask for everyone to be extra vigilant when out and about looking for people loitering around and acting suspiciously," warns the email.

And to cope with increased reports of possible criminal activity Bradford Police has created a new Suspicious Incident Number exclusively for Neighbourhood Watch members.

"If you witness a person acting suspiciously you can ring the Suspicious Incident Number to speak to a local Bradford Police Officer working as a Real Time Investigator," says a letter sent to NHW members.

"The officer will assess the incident taking into account intelligence and other incidents reported to us.

"If the officer decides an officer should check this individual to find out what they are doing, the Control Room will be notified to see if an officer is available to deploy."

The number can be obtained by contacting area Neighbourhood Policing Teams.