Crackdown on 'middle men' made an impact say police
More than a tonne of stolen cable, nine mobile phones and thousands of pounds of cash were among the proceeds of crime seized by officers during a series of dawn raids across Northamptonshire.
The final tally in the first of Operation Guardian's "impact days" showed there were 41 warrants executed, 19 arrests, one immediate recall to prison and the discovery of two cannabis factories.
More than 100 officers were involved in the crackdown, which took place as part of a drive to stamp out serious crime such as burglaries, robberies and car break-ins.
Det Chief Insp Jan Meagher, the senior investigating officer who led Thurday's warrants operation, said the raids were the first of many planned for the county to crack down on "middle men" and dealers in stolen goods.
She urged anyone with information about dodgy dealing to come forward to police and said: "This is the first of several planned impact days around those who commit serious acquisitive crime like robbery, house burglary and vehicle crime.
"The raids were planned as part of an intelligence-led operation, following information received by police officers and also members of the public.
"This sharing of intelligence is key to the success of the operation and I urge everyone to continue to give us information, which we have demonstrated that we will act on."
Addresses in Northampton, Daventry, Wellingborough and Kettering were all raided.
Among the items seized were quantities of cannabis and Class A drugs, as well as electrical goods.
As much as 4,000 in cash seized from suspected criminals could now be ploughed back into fighting crime in Northamptonshire under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Meanwhile, two men were arrested in Long Buckby in connection with the theft of livestock, cannabis production and handling stolen goods.
A 44-year-old was bailed, while a 22-year-old was released without charge.
New targets outlined by Chief Constable Adrian Lee last month aim to cut acquisitive crime by 16 per cent by March.
If the targets were achieved, they would cut burglaries, robberies and car crime by more than 2,000 year-on-year, and ensure at least one-in-four offenders who committed serious violent crimes were brought to justice.
Assistant Chief Constable Martin Jelley, Operation Guardian commander, said: "I am very enthusiastic about the operation, which will gain further momentum over coming weeks.
"We have a target to reduce serious acquisitive crime by 16 per cent by the end of March 2010 and the energy and desire coming from staff to make this difference is high."
Email to a friend
Print this page- Breaking News: Teen arrested after five injured in crash on Northamptonshire road
- Major change planned for Northampton’s town centre roads
- BREAKING NEWS: Man who died following crash on Northamptonshire road named by police
- Police swoop at Northamptonshire ‘sex lay-by’ after lewd conduct revelations
- Bully trusted to look after baby jailed for breaking its leg and fracturing its rib
- Waste recycling bins begin arriving at homes across Northamptonshire
- Major change planned for Northampton’s town centre roads
- Torquay 1 - 0 Northampton: Cobblers stay bottom after third defeat in a row at Torquay United
- Police swoop at Northamptonshire ‘sex lay-by’ after lewd conduct revelations
- Cobblers fan charged with racially abusing a black player at Shrewsbury game
- Top Northampton choreographer names Olympic ceremony performance after Chron
- Anger at plans for Northampton pharmacy which wants to open 100 hours a week
- Althorp reveals Earl Spencer’s wife is expecting new baby
- Northampton Saints: Mallinder keen to keep homegrown star Diggin at Gardens
- Manchester United heroes to take on Daventry Town in game refereed by Northamptonshire MP
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Northampton
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: West
