AN 11-YEAR-OLD boy has been arrested on suspicion of burglary as part of a crackdown on a gang of youngsters thought to be behind a wave of break-ins.

Police swooped on the schoolboy as they step up their efforts to halt a worrying spate of burglaries across the borough - including 12 in one night in Laindon.

The 11-year-old is the 51st person to be arrested in under two months - and is the youngest by three years.

Det Supt Kevin Baldwin, Basildon’s district commander, said it is unusual for someone so young to be arrested.

He said: “It is quite shocking. He’s now been bailed for some further enquiries and is due back next week.

“The arrest was in connection with a burglary in Basildon last week.

“There had been 50 arrests since September 1. It’s unfortunate that this chap is the 51st and he’s just 11 years old.

“We don’t often arrest people this young. The group of youngsters that we have targeted up until now have ranged between 15 and 17. This is the first one as young as this.

“The figure of 50 is quite significant. It’s all part of the drive to deal with the blight of burglary, and the arrests are part of the operation to target those involved.

“We have charged several people in the last few weeks.”

Kevin Blake, deputy leader of Basildon Council, said parents should be named and shamed if any juveniles are convicted of the burglary offences.

He said: “How can children as young as 11 be out and their parents not know what they’re doing? It’s absolutely shocking.

“While the children are at fault, you have also got to blame the parents.

“It’s nonsense to me that we can’t name people convicted of crime because they’re under 18 - people have had their lives torn apart.

“You have got to ask why would they do this. Is it opportunism or is there more behind it?

“It seems to me that if anyone is old enough to go out and steal then they are old enough to be named and shamed.”

One of the worst hit areas is the Wick estate, in Wickford - where there were 48 burglaries and 33 attempted burglaries between September 1 and October 20.

As a result, police have taken the unusual step of asking Essex County Council to switch the streetlights back on in eight roads for two weeks.

The youngster was bailed by police until November 2.