The number of burglaries in Mellieħa so far this year is no cause for alarm, according to statistics seen by Times of Malta following media reports of a “spate of burglaries”.

The figures show there have been 10 reported thefts from occupied residences in Mellieħa between January and September, roughly comparable to the 13 cases in each of the years 2012 and 2013 and far less than the 21 in 2011.

There were 10 reported thefts from occupied residences in the locality this year

This should reassure concerned residents after several stills from CCTV footage were released on social media last week depicting a burglar breaking into a house.

According to media reports, houses in Mellieħa Heights were targeted by “a spate of burglaries”.

However, the Mellieħa resident who posted the stills, which was shared across social media, admitted that the theft occurred on August 31 and said the stills were posted after the police investigations failed to yield any results so far.

This year, one burglary took place in January, another four in April, two in May and one in each of June, July and August.