A new police team has been launched to combat burglary in Barnet.

The team, which consists of one sergeant and eight PCs, aims to tackle the seasonal rise in burglary which tends to occur during the autumn and winter months.

A variety of tactics will be used, including unmarked police cars and targeting known offenders.

Police sergeant Pete Dearden, who is heading up the team, said: "Burglary in Barnet is down by over 22 per cent and our aim is to maintain this reduction and avert this seasonal increase by targeting those that commit burglary.

"We will disrupt the activity of potential burglars, promote crime prevention measures and seek to detect offenders where at all possible."