BURGLARS in Dudley are being warned cops will be making their mark on potential targets to catch crooks red-handed.

Officers working on the next phase of an already successful initiative, codenamed Operation Challenge, will be treating doorways and windows at viulnerable homes with a substance which leaves a stain on anyone attempting to break in.

The borough-wide initiative also includes marking property in a way which will help police identify owners of stolen items.

Operation Challenge, which includes a crackdown on known offenders, has been running since February 2013 and Dudley police say there was a reduction of 114 burglary offences in the remainder of the year.

Operation Challenge’s leader, Detective Sergeant Matt Nightingale, said: "Burglary is a priority for us and we are keen to exploit every avenue that could help us solve this kind of crime, as well as helping to better support victims in their hour of need.

"This approach should help to reassure vulnerable people and act as a deterrent to would-be offenders, whilst helping us with identification of recovered stolen property and prosecuting offenders.

"It is not only ideal for homes at risk but also premises such as churches and schools that may be vulnerable to burglary."

Police officers routinely search for marked items when undertaking house searches.

Specialist lights to detect the substance will be used when people suspected of burglary are taken into police custody to determine if they are linked to recently reported offences.