Homes around West Midlands raided in mobile phone crime blitz

Raids were carried out at properties in Dudley, Sandwell, south Birmingham and at two in Walsall after they were linked to a nationwide fraud and money laundering scam.

Police in 10 forces across the UK and 13 European countries were also targeting mobile phone crime suspects as part of a day of action.

Homes in Lime Street, Walsall, Walstead Road, Walsall, Gilbert Road, Smethwick, Bridgewater Crescent, Dudley, and Trittiford Road, Billesley in Birmingham were targeted today.

Det Insp Matt Morgan, of West Midlands Police, said the raids were being carried out in tandem with similar operations across the UK and in 13 European countries.

The action forms part of Operation Network - a force-wide operation to tackle mobile phone theft - and follows information received from the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit.

Homes in Lime Street, Walsall, Walstead Raod, Walsall, Gilbert Road, Smethwick, Bridgewater Crescent, Dudley, and Trittiford Road, Billesley were being raided today.

One of the first properties raided was in Lime Street.

Mobile phones were discovered in the house and a quantity of iPhones were recovered from a red Audi A4 parked outside. Officers arrived at at about 7.50am and used a battering ram to smash the door when no-one answered. They shouted 'police' as they stormed into the house and found a man, woman and schoolgirl inside.

They searched throughout the home, rifling through cupboards' shelves and furniture. The other raids were being carried out at around the same time.

Police today said they hoped the raids would send out a message that mobile phone crime will not be tolerated.

Det Insp Matt Morgan said: "Today we are going to five addresses. It's the culmination of a number of planned investigations. It's the third phase. We have worked in tandem with Operation Big Wig as part of a European day of action on mobile phone crime. Thirteen European countries are taking part and around 10 forces in the UK."

It was the third phase of a crackdown that has seen more than 400 stolen handsets recovered by police and 10 people arrested before today's raids.

The action forms part of Operation Network – a force-wide operation to tackle mobile phone theft – and follows information received from the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit.

The operation was launched in October 2012 and aims to raise awareness of mobile phone theft by encouraging people to register their phones and use tracker apps.

Det Insp Morgan added: "These phones are stolen and are being sold for a profit. We are trying to reduce the volume of stolen mobile phones.

"These were intelligence led raids. We hope to reduce places these people can sell phones."

He said the phones were taken in robberies and thefts.

Handsets can be registered on the national property database www.immobilise.com, which helps police reunite owners with lost or stolen items.