Police are following what they say are 'positive' lines of inquiry after another spate of burglaries.

But Inspector Derek Flint has warned that highlighting the crimes in social media could be hampering the investigation.

Several break-ins have been reported over the past few days, most of them in or around Douglas but there's also been suspicious activity in many areas across the island.

Inspector Flint said: 'The response from the public has been great, with an increase in calls to the police. As a result we have a number of positive lines of inquiry underway at present, and some other operational initiatives in play.

'For these reasons we don’t wish to confirm the more detailed information of the most recent offences, but we are of course aware that some may have been disclosed by well-meaning people on social media sites.'

He says there is a dedicated team of staff working on the investigation, supported by uniformed and plainclothes officers in key locations.

Inspector Flint said: 'In the UK, burglary will very rarely feature in the news, and as a result, the details and patterns are denied to the criminals. It appears to us that on the Island the reverse is happening, and due to the sometimes detailed information available online, offenders are becoming very well informed about matters. This may not be helping the considerable efforts being made to locate these individuals.'

Got a story? Contact Joanne on 340000 or email newsdesk@manx.net

twitter @jonewsiom