CHRISTMAS cards are being hand delivered by police to suspected thieves in South Cambridgeshire as part of a crackdown on burglary. The Christmas card reads: Just to remind you that if you offend this Christmas, you may well miss out on all the festiviti

CHRISTMAS cards are being hand delivered by police to suspected thieves in South Cambridgeshire as part of a crackdown on burglary.

The Christmas card reads: "Just to remind you that if you offend this Christmas, you may well miss out on all the festivities. Cambridgeshire police would like to warn you to keep out of trouble. The Burglary Squad is working over the Christmas period.

"Have a Merry Christmas! From your Burglary Squad Team."

Inside the card is a picture of a man behind bars with colourful Christmas decorations around him.

DI Adam Gallop said: "We will deliver the cards to anyone we have intelligence on as being potentially involved in burglary. The card will remind them that we are watching them and we won't tolerate criminal behaviour. Where we have enough evidence, we will naturally make arrests."

The Christmas campaign, launched on Monday, will also see increased burglary patrols.

Police figures show an increase in burglary during the festive period. In southern division (Cambridge, South Cambs and East Cambs) between December 2006 and January 2007 there were 315 house burglaries. This was 240 during the same period in 2007/08 and 394 for 2008/09.