Police are setting up "rat traps" to catch burglars who steal to feed their drug habit.

Officers are turning flats into a burglar's paradise containing property which can be easily sold on.

But once inside they will be caught by officers lying in wait.

By releasing details of what they intend to do, detectives hope it will act as a deterrent and cut the number of burglaries.

The operation is being masterminded by Detective Chief Inspector Reg Hooke of Hove police.

He is negotiating with landlords for the use of at least four flats in the Brunswick, Adelaide and St Anne's Well areas.

They will be set up to look as if they are being lived in. A combination of surveillance and officers staying in the flats will be used to keep watch over them.

Mr Hooke said: "Half the burglaries in Hove happen in those areas and they are almost exclusively motivated by drugs.

"These people are absolutely desperate for money to buy drugs and are reckless in the way they operate.

"They will take any opportunity to break into houses or flats if they believe there is something inside they can sell to raise money for drugs.

"Often they will return to the same house or flat or burgle neighbouring properties in the same road on the same day.

"Because of the desperate nature of the way they operate, we believe that setting up flats in this way will tempt them to break in.

"Because these people are responsible for most of the burglaries, it will enable us to considerably reduce the number taking place in the area.

"They were averaging about 20 a week but because of good policing initiatives resulting in a number of arrests that figure was down to just five burglaries last week."

Detectives have used "rat trap" cars in similar operations to crack crime in Sussex.

He said police-owned cars were sometimes fitted with a water spray, which was activated when the car was broken into and marked the offenders' skin.