Madeleine Police Probe More Break-Ins

British detectives searching for Madeleine McCann have discovered more of the holiday apartment burglaries they believe hold the key to solving the case.

They had been investigating 18 break-ins in which intruders entered the bedrooms of young, mostly British girls.

Now they are probing 28 such burglaries, Sky News has learned.

Forensic evidence is being tested against findings from the apartment from where Madeleine vanished eight years ago.

The development in the Scotland Yard investigation is revealed by authors Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan in a new edition of their recent book Looking For Madeleine.

Summers said: "Our source told us that after stumbling across 18 burglaries last year, they have now discovered a total of 28 in the area of Praia da Luz in the years around 2007 when Madeleine disappeared.

"It gives them a much better chance of matching evidence against forensics from the McCann apartment.

"I was told there was great sensitivity around this forensic testing, nobody wants to discuss it, but they are making progress and believe the case is solvable."

The author said in the past few days the Home Office had agreed to continue its controversial funding of the British investigation which has now cost more than £10m.

Summers said: "Officials meet the police every three months to review spending and only last week told them there was no financial or political pressure to cut back."

Madeleine was nearly four when she vanished from the family's rented holiday apartment on 3 May eight years ago. It's thought she was abducted.

Portuguese police abandoned their investigation after 15 months without establishing any clues to the mystery and for three years there was no official search for Madeleine.

With Home Office backing, Scotland Yard began a review of evidence in 2011 and then launched a full-scale investigation two years ago.

The London branch leader of the police union the Police Federation said recently that funding of the investigation could not be justified in the wake of continuing public spending cuts which have hit all forces.

Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann have said they are "more driven than ever" to continue the search for their daughter.