Officers from Northamptonshire Police's Protective Services Command targeted handlers with strikes at addresses across the county as part of Operation Guardian, a Forcewide operation to reduce serious acquisitive crime – house burglary, vehicle crime and robbery.

The action, which was carried out today, is the beginning of a sustained initiative to deal with people not only involved in handling stolen goods but who are involved in every aspect of serious acquisitive crime.

Eight policing teams comprising of more than 80 officers from Protective Services Command – including specialist search officers, intelligence officers and investigators were involved in today's activity, which is the culmination of an intensive intelligence gathering operation.

A 21-year-old woman was arrested at a house in Dorset Road, Northampton, on suspicion of handling, by a policing team that was accompanied by Chief Constable Adrian Lee.

And in the same street, two men aged 22 and 24 were arrested on suspicion of theft at another address by another team which included Assistant Chief Constable Martin Jelley.

In addition, a 43-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft at a house in Auckland Close, Northampton and a 27-year-old man was arrested an address in Mannock Road, Wellingborough on suspicion of handling as the operation reached its half-way stage.

Detective Chief Inspector Jan Meagher, of the Major Investigation Team, said that the operation had been carefully planned, and that information and intelligence passed on by members of the local community had played an important part in putting it together.

She said: "Today's operation is part of a determined effort to reduce serious acquisitive crime in this county, to make people feel safer and safeguard not only them but also their homes and vehicles.

"The intention is to demonstrate that we will listen to what the public tell us and we will get in the faces of people who handle stolen goods in Northamptonshire. We will disrupt their activities. We can, and will, take strong action against them.

"I hope that Operation Guardian will also reassure our communities that we intend to deal with those people who trade on making other people's lives a misery.

"If you are offered an item which appears to be too much of a bargain, then you can be pretty sure that it is likely to have been stolen. Every bargain out there has a victim of crime at the end of it.

"If you take a risk and deal in stolen property then expect a visit from us in the future.

"People in Northamptonshire have already provided us with some useful information and intelligence about handlers of stolen goods and other criminals operating in their midst.

"Please tell us what you suspect and we will tell you what we are doing about it. Today's operation is just the start.

"If you know something, tell your local police officer or PCSO, visit the police station or pick up the phone to us on 03000 111 222.

"I would hope that you would want to talk to us direct but if you do want to give information on an anonymous basis, you can do that via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Information can also be left via an intelligence form on the Operation Guardian page on the Force website www.northamptonshire.police.uk/guardian