There was a slight increase in crimes reported during the summer.

From June to August this year, a total of 5,552 crimes were reported across Barnet, an increase of 38 crimes compared to the same period last year.

However, crime rates differed between wards. Some saw an increase, such as Burnt Oak and Hale, which saw 21 and 31 more crimes reported respectively.

Others saw a fall, such as Mill Hill and West Finchley, which saw 25 and 56 fewer crimes reported in the summer months.

The figures were compiled by the Metropolitan Police.

Maureen West, chairman of Barnet’s neighbourhood watch scheme, said the figures were not unusual. She explained that the most common crime in the borough was burglary, and that there was often an increase in the summer.

She said: “That’s when everybody goes on holiday. There are so many ways burglary can happen. The worst thing is people loading their cars in the daytime.

“People also go to work and leave the windows open. All sorts of mistakes can cost you. All these different things need to be addressed. It’s impossible to stop burglary completely.”

She also praised the efforts of the police, including during last week’s Clocks, Locks and Lights event, which saw 500 police officers take to the streets to give advice on crime prevention.

Mrs West said: “Burglary is something you can’t control, it’s right across the borough. The borough commander slings everything he has at it. I would find it really hard to knock what he does.

“Our police really do their utmost, they couldn’t possibly do more. I can only speak about them glowingly.

“I would like to see more money go to the police but that won’t happen. If you have more feet in the streets it makes a lot of difference.”