A 34-year old man has been arrested as part of an investigation into a spike in burglaries in Jesmond and Heaton last month, but has since been released pending further investigations.

The news comes after a 44-year old man was arrested for a burglary on St. Georges Terrace — he has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on July 2.

JesmondLocal revealed that since the beginning of May the police have received 51 reports of burglaries and thefts with the majority of victims being students, with intruders gaining access to their property through an open window or unlocked door.

The streets targeted in Jesmond included Devonshire Place, Cavendish Place and Manor House Road.

Neighbourhood Inspector Julie Rana said officers will continue to pursue offenders while reminding residents to take extra care to make sure doors and windows are secure.

“This is another positive step forward in our investigation and I hope it reassures residents that we are taking this increase in reports seriously,” said Rana.

“We will continue with targeted patrols and will be engaging with the student community in particular about keeping their homes secure.

“As a lot of people live in these addresses, opportunist thieves know they could be easy targets as it is more likely someone will leave a door or window unlocked,” said Rana, who revealed that community support officers (CSOs) have handed out crime prevention advice to more than 250 residents in the areas being targeted by thieves.

Anyone noticing suspicious activity can report it on the Northumbria Police website or by calling 101.