The worst affected areas for burglary have been revealed as Kent Police cracks down on winter crime.

Police made more than 100 burglary related arrests in November alone, with many investigations ongoing.

Crime historically increases between Halloween and Christmas, with darker evenings and people leaving for the seasonal period giving burglars opportunity.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "In response the force runs Op Castle – an annual campaign to proactively target offenders and provide crime prevention advice.

"A total of 106 arrests were made across the county, with many of the investigations remaining ongoing."

In total, 57 charges were made for burglary offences across Kent.

In total 741 residential burglaries were reported for November, including attempted burglaries and break ins to sheds and garages.

The burglary hotspots in Kent have been revealed in figures given to News Shopper.

1. Medway: 114

2. Maidstone: 85

3. Sevenoaks: 68

4. Ashford/Canterbury/Thanet: 62

5: Dartford: 51

6. Gravesham: 50

7. Tonbridge and Malling: 49

8.Swale/Tunbridge Wells: 37

9. Dover: 33

10. Shepway: 31

Distraction burglariies is a common technique used by would-be thieves and police have given advice on how to avoid falling victim to these types of crimes:

Lock your back doors and windows before answering the front door – thieves often work in pairs, one distracting you at the front door while the other tries the back;

Use your spyhole and chain and ask who they are through the door first;

Check their identification, even if they have a pre-arranged appointment;

If they leave you a contact number, do not use it as it may be fake. Find the company’s number in the phone book, on the internet or on a recent bill instead. In the case of police officers, you can call 101 to check the identity of a person claiming to be from Kent Police;

If you need to get something, close the door until you return;

If in doubt, ask them to leave and come back at a more convenient time when a family member or friend can be with you.

The following advice is also known to help put off burglars:

Keep keys, cash and expensive items out of view;

Use timer switches on lights and radios to make your home look occupied;

Keep gates locked and boundaries secure;

Lock away bikes, tools and garden items that could be stolen or used to break into your home.