Chief Inspector David Moore said that although it had been a bad weekend, arrests have been made and officers were following a definite line of enquiry into the spate of burglaries.

In some of the 10 cases the burglars attempted to steal drugs or medication while in other incidents they failed to get into the houses.

"Certainly these people may have been targetted because they are vulnerable members of society" Mr Moore said.

"There were a number of attempted burglaries where they failed to gain entry. We have made a number of arrests and have definite lines of enquiry."

In one of the break-ins on Sunday evening an elderly householder awoke to find three males in the house at Riverside Drive at Magheralave. The criminals had searched through the property looking for drugs before making off empty handed.

Thieves also attempted to break into the home of an elderly resident in the Tonagh area. Damage was caused to a door during an unsuccessful attempt to gain entry on Saturday night.

In another incident thieves forced a window in a house in the Glendale area of Dunmurry on Friday night. Keys were stolen from the property which again belonged to an elderly resident.

Elderly householders in a property at Cherry Park, Dunmurry disturbed a burglar who was described as young and tall on Saturday morning around 7am. It is believed he forced entry through a bedroom window. Three males were seen making off.

Chief Inspector Moore said that in the United Kingdom as a whole the number of breaks ins has gone down by six percent, while in Lisburn the fall is seven per cent.

Anyone who can help the police with information about any of the incidents should ring them on 0845-600800 or use the Crimestoppers number which is 0800-555111.