Police have been accused of 'breaking and entering' and 'trespassing' after letting themselves into people's unlocked homes and tweeting pictures as part of a bizarre anti-burglary drive.

The Coventry City Police team has faced an angry backlash on social media after publicising how officers have been testing front doors while on carrying out burglary patrols of the city.

The photos, one of which has been retweeted by West Midlands Police's chief constable, showed police inside hallways to make a point that the homeowner's property was 'unsecure'.

Backlash: Police have been accused of 'breaking and entering' and 'trespassing' after letting themselves into people's houses and tweeting pictures as part of a bizarre anti-burglary drive

Under fire: The Coventry City Police team has faced an angry backlash on social media after publicising how officers have been testing front doors while on carrying out burglary patrols of the city (pictured)

Dozens of people questioned the officers' actions, accusing them of trespassing and breaking and entering

Once highlighted, neighbourhood officers provide advice on how to prevent burglaries.

But the approach has sparked outrage online, with one Twitter user, Craig Walder, posting: 'If you enter my home like this, don't be surprised if I use reasonable force when I hear you.'

Another tweeted: 'Would you like to explain why you're trespassing?', while Tom Bewick wrote: 'The police can do it so can I, it seems walking into someone's property isn't illegal anymore! #notabovethelaw'.

Adam Jones posted: 'Y'all better know if you did this to my house I'd have you done for trespassing. Very silly.'

Dozens more people also questioned the officers' actions.

One tweeted: 'And if my dog attacks you as you trespass in my house... don't blame me or him...'

Another wrote: 'Pretty sure "wandering in to make a point" would receive a very dim view from the ipcc [Independent Police Complaints Commission].'

West Midlands Police said it had had good feedback on the four-day campaign, which was accompanied on Twitter by the hashtag 'stolen in seconds', but the force said it would take other comments on board.

Defending the move: West Midlands Police said it had had good feedback about its social media campaign but would take other comments on board. One of the pictures tweeted earlier this month is shown

Easy access: Another photo showed a member of the Coventry City Police team highlighting an unlocked gate

Coventry City Police did respond to some of the criticism on Twitter, including a post by Chris McKee (above)

WHERE POLICE STAND: LAW ON TRESPASSING ON SOMEONE'S PROPERTY Trespassing onto somebody else’s land or property without a lawful excuse can occur in a number of ways, with the most common example being jumping over a fence to retrieve a football. In order to bring a claim for trespass there must be direct and unjustifiable interference with somebody’s land. However, it is not a criminal offence, so property owners must bring their claim in the civil courts. Legal justification would include when a police officer enters a person's land or property under an appropriate warrant. Occasions when police do not need a warrant to enter people's homes include to arrest an individual for a sufficiently serious crime or to recapture someone unlawfully at large. They are also allowed to carry out activities which are in the public good, such as to save an individual's life or prevent serious damage to a person or property. Advertisement

In a statement, Coventry Police Chief Inspector Helen Kirkman, told the BBC: 'A significant proportion all burglaries in this area − in excess of 25 per cent − are "walk-in" offences committed by opportunists taking advantage of properties left unsecure.

'Neighbourhood police teams have been on patrol to deter such offences, look for suspects, and to offer crime prevention advice to residents.

'If they find a door or window left open I think people would want officers to check everything is OK at that address and not to just walk on by.'

Explanation: Coventry Police Chief Inspector Helen Kirkman defended the approach, which included officers checking gates to side and rear entries to a property and tweeting those they found to be unlocked (pictured)

Police issued a warning to people to check their homes are secure after finding a number of doors unlocked

'Great addition to home security': In another tweet, Coventry City Police said they were able to walk into an owner's home through an open door, despite the presence of a burglary alarm (pictured)

Chf Insp Kirkman also said residents were 'grateful' for the advice and that she had not received any complaints.

'We encourage our police teams to be proactive and creative in their use of social media to engage with the public and get messages across,' she added.

'We haven't received any complaints from residents, but obviously we will take on board social media comments.'

Not everyone was critical of the police's anti-burglary social media campaign, however.