Morning raids crack down on car crime

Three people were arrested and a quantity of drugs, counterfeit money and stolen property recovered from four addresses and one vehicle in Operation Natural.

The Guardian joined four groups of officers from Northwich Community Action Team and members of the investigation team as they swooped on houses in Laburnum Road, Rudheath, and Church Road, Dean Street and Mayfield Road in Northwich.

Det Con Rupert Morrey, who put the operation together, said: "There has been a marked increase in the amount of vehicle crime committed in the town during the past month, and our intelligence indicates two groups of people are responsible for this spike in activity."

He added that his team had been working hard for the past week gathering vital evidence for the raids.

Officers who went to Mayfield Road were surprised to find one person hiding inside a sofa, and were only alerted to his presence when it began to move.

Insp Graeme Birmingham, of Northwich Neighbourhood Policing Unit was pleased with the outcome, saying: "While we would like to have recovered more property than we did, I am confident that we targeted the right people.

"Operations such as this one are part of a longer term plan to win the hearts and minds of the community.

"It is important that we send a message out to these people to let them know we are aware they are active, and to reassure the public that we are actively clamping down on the problem."

Det Sgt Paul Beauchamp, who also took part, added: "The main aim today was one of disruption - the figures for vehicle crime over the coming weeks will drop noticeably as a result."

As a result of Operation Natural, one 27-year-old man was arrested for possession of Class A drugs, a second man, aged 23, was arrested on a warrant after failing to attend court, and a third 70-year-old man was arrested for handling counterfeit money, believed to be more than £200 in £20 notes.