Police officers say that the warmer summer weather often encourages people to leave windows open – presenting thieves with an ideal opportunity to get inside homes.

PCs Henry Henderson and Adam Dewfield are placing warning posters around the village to remind residents to lock up.

However, they are also on the lookout for insecure homes and will be leaving yellow footprints inside any homes they find with open windows or doors.

The footprints – in the shape of a size nine boot – carry a message that officers found the home insecure and give further advice about how to foil burglars.

PC Dewfield said: “We hope that when a householder finds a footprint inside their home, it will make them reconsider their domestic security.

“We are committed to getting personal with both criminals and our local communities so that we can make life harder for opportunist thieves.”

The initiative will be run throughout the summer and will be evaluated to see if it has had an impact on crime rates in the village.

PC Henderson said: “We want our local residents to take this message on board and start securing their homes properly.

“We need local people to take crime prevention seriously in order to reduce their chances of becoming a victim.”

For more information about the scheme in Broughton Astley, contact PCs Dewfield and Henderson on 0116 2222222, using identification numbers 1837 or 2199 when prompted.

Further crime prevention advice is available at www.leics.police.uk.