GOLD Coast had a 24% drop in reported unlawful entries since the start of a month-long blitz on criminal anti-social behaviour, police said.

South East Police Region Assistant Commissioner Paul Wilson said the “unofficial statistics” showed Operation Seymour was a success.

There was also a 30% drop in unlawful use of a motor vehicle, stealing from a motor vehicle (9%) and theft (9%).

“More importantly, armed robbery offences have dropped, with only eight offences reported from the commencement of Operation Seymour compared to 20 reported offences in May 2011 and 33 reported offences in April 2011.

“The entire aim of this operation was to get the police out in the suburbs, out in the areas where the public had been complaining about the crime rate and hot-spotting.”

Mr Wilson said reported crime was trending down.

On the final day of Operation Seymour the police attached to the task force arrested 26 people on 54 charges.

The total number of arrests for the 27 days of the operation was 741 people on 1157 charges.

“As we go into the season with all the major events, like the major sporting events and schoolies and other things, then we bring extra resources in,” Mr Wilson said.

“I have discussed it with my chief this morning to possibly look at doing some form of extra operations of a Seymour-style during those when we have extra police here as well.”

Mr Wilson said if people insisted on breaking the law then they should “be prepared to be arrested and locked up”.

Round up

Arrests: 741 people

Charges: 1157 charges

Duration: 27 days

Crime trend down for August:

24% unlawful entry

30% unlawful use of a motor vehicle

26% stealing from a motor vehicle

9% theft