Mounted police, sniffer dog teams and crime analysts are to be drafted in by police as part of a year long blitz on burglary and the 'dealers in misery' who handle stolen goods.

Operation Midnight aims to reduce burglaries by increasing police presence in 'hotspot' areas where properties have been targeted in the Vale of White Horse.

It also wants to encourage residents to tighten up their home security and to act on intelligence provided by the public.

The total number of burglaries in the Vale has fallen in the last two years from 271 between April 1 and July 31, 2003, to 240 for the same period this year, but police want to reduce the figure by a further 10 per cent by 2008.

Local area commander Chief Insp Dave Purnell said: "Operation Midnight will target burglars who cause fear and distress in our community and we will target the dealers in misery who then trade illegally in stolen property."

Police say they receive least intelligence about who is commiting burglaries and who is receiving stolen property. Operation Midnight aims to link up with the district council, pub landlords, trading standards and shopkeepers to try to improve that.

Under the Community Action Trust Award scheme anyone who provides information which leads to an arrest can receive a cash reward of at least £50.

Chief Insp Purnell added: "You might be approached in a pub and offered a cheap Xbox or iPod.

"If the deal seems too good to be true then it probably is.

"Knowingly buying stolen property is illegal. Every stolen item has a victim. Don't help dealers, report them to police."

Although break-ins happen throughout the Vale, criminals generally target one area at a time, hitting several properties in quick succession.

During the crackdown, these 'hotspot areas' will see a massive increase in police presence.

In rural areas this is likely to involve mounted police patrols who can travel quickly across country.

If police are alerted when a burglary is taking place a dog team can track burglars as they try to escape from a property.

Chief Insp Purnell added: "I'd rather we did not have any burglary victims.

"But if someone has to go through the distress of being a victim of crime, then I want that crime detected and the offender brought to justice, and we need to work together to achieve that."

He also said burglars looked for easy targets, and urged the public to be more vigilant in securing their property, by locking doors and windows, leaving a light on a timer switch and getting neighbours to check the property when away.

Bill Jones, from the Vale of White Horse District Council, said: "It's time for residents across the Vale to work together to give burglars no opportunities and take away the market for stolen property."