POLICE arrested suspected burglars in Redditch, Barnt Green, and Kidderminster as part of a police crackdown on burglary in North Worcestershire.
Two 16-year-old boys and a 17-year-old boy were arrested on suspicion of two counts of attempted residential burglary and two counts of residential burglary in Redditch. They were bailed pending further enquiries.
In a separate case, a 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of residential burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, possession of a class B drug, and possession of an offensive weapon following a burglary in Redditch where a BMW and a Mercedes were stolen. He was bailed pending further enquiries.
A 62-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a residential burglary in Barnt Green, where a BMW car and other valuables were stolen. He was bailed pending further enquiries.
And two 19-year-old men were arrested on suspicion of residential burglary at a property in Kidderminster, where an Audi QS7 was stolen along with £500 cash and a designer purse.
The Audi was later recovered, and both have been bailed pending further enquiries.
Multiple arrests were made, and cash and drugs were seized in north Worcestershire as officers took part in Vehicle Crime Intensification Week.
During the Operation Alliance II week, which ran from October 13 to 19, police also shared advice on how to protect your vehicles from criminals via their social media platforms and Neighbourhood Matters website.
During the week, seven arrests were made and eight searches carried out in relation to vehicle crime. As a result of the arrests, four mobile phones were seized, which will be subject to digital forensics.
Drugs, including cannabis and nitrous oxide, were seized, as well as nearly £2,000 in cash.
Det Insp Colin Berry, Vehicle Crime Lead in north Worcestershire, said: “This intensification week saw our officers focus on efforts to tackle some of the highest harm offenders in vehicle crime, reflecting the work West Mercia carries out every day, 365 days a year.
“Organised crime groups are often responsible for a significant number of vehicle thefts and car key burglaries, whether to export high-end vehicles overseas or to break them up for parts and use in so-called chop shops.
“Stolen vehicles can also be used in other areas of acquisitive crime as well as drug offending and modern slavery, so tackling these offences is of high importance.”
