Haul seized in dawn raids
Thousands of pounds of suspected stolen goods were recovered in a series of dawn raids across Wednesbury today.
Police targeted two homes this morning as part of an operation against what is believed to be the town's most prolific burglary gang.
Officers smashed their way into a house in Hawthorn Road followed by another in Warwick Avenue where they recovered laptops, mobile phones, games consoles, a portable DVD player and clothing worth an estimated £5,000.
One 34-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of burglary.
Police are continuing to hunt for other targets and warrants are set to be executed at three more addresses in Wednesbury within the next 28 days as part of the same investigation, officers said today.
Inspector Akeel Najib, from Wednesbury police station, said the raids were part of an ongoing operation which was targeting suspected criminals believed to be responsible for three quarters of all burglaries in the town.
Similar operations were taking place across the country as part of a national day of action on burglary, which came as Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced a £3 million crackdown, aimed at intensifying the monitoring of convicted offenders after they are released from prison.
A team of 15 police officers swooped on the first house in Hawthorn Road shortly before 7am this morning following a week of planning, breaking open the front door before searching the property for suspicious items. A second raid followed at Warwick Avenue, where more suspected stolen goods were found.
Inspector Najib said: "From our point of view it has been very successful and we have recovered around £5,000 of suspected stolen property.
"We have made one arrest and no doubt that will lead us up the chain. "He said they were still searching for the leader of the suspected burglary gang, as well as up to four others, but was confident more arrests would be made shortly.
"It is an ongoing operation and it is so far, so good. These were the first two of five warrants over the next month and we have been looking at these targets for six to eight weeks.
"We think this group we are targeting is responsible for about 75 per cent of the burglaries in Wednesbury.
"We know they are active and it is just about getting the information and getting the evidence to bring before the courts," he added.
