A MAJOR crime crackdown against thieves targeting homes in Glasgow's West End is under way.

Operation Fortress, which will run for two months, will target housebreakers in a bid to reduce what is described as an "intolerable" crime.

As well as stamping out housebreaking, senior officers want to make communities safer and a key part of the campaign will be reassuring the public.

Extra resources have been drafted in and local patrols stepped up in "hot spots", during the operation which began this month.

Chief Inspector Alan Gibson, area comman-der for the west sub division, said: "Strath-clyde Police are absol-utely determined to do all we can to prevent housebreakings.

"We aim to make the West End of Glasgow as safe and secure as possible, as well as a hostile environment for opportunist criminals."

Last year, The Evening Times' Crime On Your Street investig-ation revealed West End areas Woodlands and Hillhead were top of the table for house break-ins. Both areas had more than 90 reported break-ins and attempted break-ins each in 2010/11.

Since then, police have launched a dedicated house-breaking team, leading to a 20% decrease in the last seven months, compared to the previous seven months.

Detective Constable Alasdair Penny, who is working on Operation Fortress, said: "The impact of acquisitive crime on our commun-ities in the West End of Glasgow is of great concern and will remain a policing priority.

"Unfortunately, theft by housebreakings in the West End of Glas-gow is still prevalent despite numerous joint campaigns between Strathclyde Police and other partner agencies.

"To counteract this, Operation Fortress has been launched.

"This is a two-month campaign focusing on not only reducing the number of house-breakings, but also detecting and disrupt-ing the activities of individuals involved in housebreaking."

Posters and leaflets on how to keep property safe, have been deliv-ered to householders.

Chief Inspector Gibson added: "House-breaking is an intoler-able crime which leaves many victims with a lingering sense of unease in their homes.

"Communities in the west of Glasgow can be attractive targets for housebreakers.

"The public can actively support their community by telling us whenever they see someone acting suspiciously.

"We welcome their calls and we will never criticise a member of the public who contacts us in good faith."

Anyone with any concerns can contact West End Police Office on 0141 532 2000.

rebecca.gray@heraldandtimes.co.uk

OPERATION Fortress is the latest initiative targeting a specific crime to be rolled out by Strathclyde Police.

Last week, the Evening Times revealed how organised criminal gangs and anti-social behaviour will be targeted across the west of Scotland by Operation Myriad.

The major six-month campaign will see all eight divisions of the Strathclyde force take part in an intense month of action in a bid to reduce crime at every level.

The first area to be targeted is B Division, which runs from Maryhill in the north, to Baillieston and Easterhouse in the east.

Myriad is a roll out of Operation Neptune, which was first launched last year. It ran again in April this year, in the north and east of Glasgow and East Dunbartonshire.

Neptune combined high-profile policing with intelligence-led operations and is credited for helping cut serious assaults by almost 34% and robbery by almost 35%.