RESIDENTS in Beverley and Driffield are more likely to be victims of antisocial behaviour than burglary, annual crime figures for the towns have shown.
Beverley had 29 house break-ins last year and Driffield had just 12, after domestic burglary almost halved in the two towns.
Antisocial behaviour attracted 641 complaints in Beverley and 267 in Driffield. But police say reports of bad behaviour in the towns reduced by almost a third compared with 2011.
Inspector Rob Cocker, who is in charge of neighbourhood policing in the towns, said: "Domestic burglaries have reduced significantly.
"You are more likely to be a victim of antisocial behaviour than burglary but complaints of antisocial behaviour have also reduced.
"I am sure people will question whether reporting of crime to the police has gone down.
"I would probably accept there are elements of that with antisocial behaviour and criminal damage but I would encourage people to report incidents to us."
Insp Cocker insists antisocial behaviour remains a key issue for his neighbourhood policing teams.
He said: "Antisocial behaviour is one of the constant issues we try to redress because it affects quality of life.
"If people feel uneasy, the fear of crime can be more of an issue than the reality.
"You don't want an area with a bad reputation that people are less likely to visit, or people don't feel comfortable in.
"Reducing antisocial behaviour is key to increasing public confidence.
"If people feel safe and secure, they will have confidence in the police force."
Insp Cocker said youths are not to blame for the majority of antisocial behaviour, with just 30 per cent of complaints linked to juvenile activities.
He said: "Youths congregating on street corners is not as prevalent as it used to be.
"In the past five years it was quite common but powers to seize alcohol have contributed to it being less of a problem. If youths are drinking they are doing it at people's houses."
Council tenants involved in offending risk eviction.
Insp Cocker said: "If council tenants are acting in an antisocial way, they may face consequences from a housing point of view and that is another deterrent."
Alcohol-fuelled disturbances and damage caused by yobs leaving town pubs at night are the target of additional police patrols.
Criminal damage has been cut by 28 per cent in Beverley, where there 272 incidents were reported last year.
In Driffield, there were 124 offences, down by 20 per cent.
Insp Cocker said: "The main time for damage being caused is after kicking-out times from the pubs on Friday and Saturday night when people are going home.
"We have increased patrols at night to discourage crime but this is when most people are in bed so the majority of residents will not be seeing uniformed officers on patrol."
