Housebreakings have jumped in Irvine with criminals targeting properties 121 times over the last year.
The number of break-ins has risen by about a quarter – up from 92 the year before.
Chief Superintendent Mark Hargreaves said: “Irvine has seen a significant increase in house break-ins.
“Quite often we find a lot of housebreakings are committed by a small number of individuals.
“Unfortunately it is a way of life for some people.”
Across the whole of North Ayrshire housebreaking levels were slightly down in the year up to March 31.
In Kilwinning the number of break-ins dipped from 42 to 27.
Figures are also down in the Garnock Valley and North Coast and Cumbraes.
The statistics were presented to the North Ayrshire Police and Fire and Rescue Committee this week.
Overall 10,954 crimes occured in North Ayrshire, which is up by two per cent over the last financial year, but police were called to 44,318 incidents.
The number of sex crimes has surged by a fifth – up 20 per cent.
Stevenston councillor Jimmy Miller said: “We have to get this number down. Twenty per cent is a huge number.”
The meeting heard the reason for the rise is that more people are coming forward to report sexual offences and teenagers sharing indecent images on social media.
Chief Superintendent Hargreaves said: “Young people don’t understand what they are doing, that it is a criminal offence.”
