Elmbridge police announced its decision at the weekend to offer free DNA forensic marking kits to homes in the local area, after a spate of burglaries in the past year.

In a Facebook post, the police force wrote: “We suffered an increase in regional burglary last year.

“In Elmbridge, we enhanced local resource to address the issue, and there have been several arrests, charges and terms of imprisonment, which has pleasingly resulted in a large reduction in burglary on the borough.

“We have recently secured some healthy funding for preventative measures to best place us for ongoing stability”.

Residents who wish to take part can mark their property with the technology, put up signs outside their home and register their unique DNA code on a database.

The kit, which has a retail price of £59.50, includes window stickers to inform potential burglars that the property is forensically marked.

Any marked property recovered by police will then be traced back and returned to its registered owner thanks to the technology.

Elmbridge police said the kits would act as a deterrent and increase the chance of getting back stolen property.

To get a kit, visit the Elmbridge civic centre police counter on High Street in Esher with proof of residency such as a utility or council tax bill, from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Last week, a spate in burglaries led Surrey Police to release images in connection with four alleged break-ins in Caterham, Horley and Epsom in the past month.