The crackdown has seen more than 25 people charged with burglary – a crime linked with drug dealers.

In the latest raid, police smashed their way into the home of a suspected teenage drug dealer in Wellingborough early yesterday.

They found a quantity of cocaine at the home in Edinburgh Road on the Kingsway Estate.

Sgt Mark Hopkinson, of the priority crime team, said: "We are focusing on those offenders that are believed to be the most prolific, together with their associates.

"We have charged more than 25 offenders with burglary offences over the last three months, many of whom are now awaiting trial, and one of these offenders has already received a sentence of three years imprisonment.

"There is a link between acquisitive crime and drug use and as a consequence drug dealers are also being targeted in the drive to tackle the burglaries in Wellingborough."

The teenager suspected of drug dealing was not at the property during the raid but police said they expect to question him in the coming days.

A locked safe, which was later found to contain knives commonly used to cut drugs, was also taken in addition to the cocaine worth about £600.

Sgt Hopkinson said: "The message we're trying to send out is that we are looking to target drug dealers in Wellingborough and anyone who is connected with burglaries in the area who are feeding their drug habit by supplying stolen property from dwelling burglaries.

"My team is going to robustly target the offenders and today's result is very good for the team, it sends out the right message to everybody.

"It also sends out a message to the law abiding members of the community that we are not going to tolerate this type of thing, my team is on hand and we will be looking to force entry to addresses.

"We will have mums who don't believe their sons are involved in any way shape or form now having to face facts that they are.

"There are going to be a lot more upset people when we are going through doors in this manner with a view to recover drugs and stolen property."

Last month there were 120 burglaries in the Wellingborough district compared to 115 the month before and 100 in January 2008.

Anyone with any information about people committing crime in the area can call 08453 700700 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.