£50,000 haul seized from travellers’ site (From Evesham Journal)

£50,000 haul seized from travellers’ site

11:33am Thursday 8th May 2008

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STOLEN property worth £50,000 was recovered and eight people arrested after officers from four police forces swooped on a travellers' site near Evesham on Friday.

Operation Colly, a joint initiative between Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Thames Valley forces, supported by West Mercia and the Western Counties Air Operations Unit, took place on the site at Evesham Road, Cleeve Prior.

During the raid, officers recovered items including two caravans, a car, a quad bike, an off-road motorcycle and a large quantity of tools including seven generators.

Eight people - five men and three women - were arrested in connection with crimes in the North Cotswolds, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire areas.

A 13-year-old boy from Evesham was arrested on suspicion of two counts of burglary and bailed to appear at Witney Police Station on Thursday and Leamington Spa Police Station on June 19.

A 42-year-old woman from Evesham was arrested on suspicion of two counts of burglary, one in the North Cotswolds and will appear at Witney Police Station on Thursday and Stroud Police Station on July 8.

A 44-year-old man from Evesham was arrested on suspicion of three counts of burglary and was bailed to appear at Witney Police Station on Thursday and Leamington Spa Police Station on June 19.

Another Evesham man, aged 20, was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and bailed to appear at Cheltenham Police Station on July 2.

A 41-year-old woman from Evesham was arrested on suspicion of theft of a caravan and bailed to appear at Cheltenham Police Station on July 2.

An Evesham woman, aged 31, was arrested on suspicion of a theft that occurred in the North Cotswolds and bailed to appear at Stroud Police Station on May 29.

Two men aged 17 and 18, both from Cheltenham, were also arrested on warrant and appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on Friday.

The successful operation represents part of a effort to curb a recent increase in non-dwelling burglary and theft around the Cotswolds.

Acting Sergeant Tim Griffiths said: "This was an intelligence-led operation aimed specifically at addressing the recent increase in burglaries in the three force areas and those suspected of being involved.

"I would estimate that about £50,000 of property suspected of being stolen has now been recovered.

"Where we receive information we will act to arrest those individuals responsible and recover property.

"We will continue our efforts in tackling this type of crime and can assure the public that this is part of an on-going response to the problem which will continue throughout the summer."

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