HOUSEBREAKERS will face up to five years in prison under a tough new prosecution policy to be enforced over the festive period.
The crackdown was announced as Police Scotland said it had recorded a 4% rise in housebreakings since April.
The force has launched a national campaign targeting the crime, setting up specialist teams.
Housebreaking is usually prosecuted on summary complaint in front of a sheriff, with a maximum sentence of one year imprisonment.
But any person accused of the offence in the next few weeks will face a trial on indictment before a sheriff and jury with a possible sentence of up to five years.
Previously only the most serious cases of housebreaking were prosecuted on indictment.
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