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

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

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

Eight people - five males and three females - 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 May 15 and Leamington Spa Police Station on Thursday 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 May 15 and Stroud Police Station on Tuesday 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 May 15 and Leamington Spa Police Station on Thursday June 19.

A 20-year-old man from Evesham was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and bailed to appear at Cheltenham Police Station on Wednesday July 2 and 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 Wednesday July 2.

A 31-year-old woman from Evesham was arrested on suspicion of a theft that occurred in the North Cotswolds area and bailed to appear at Stroud Police Station on Thursday May 29.

An 18-year-old man and 17-year-old man, both from Cheltenham, were also arrested on warrant and appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates court on Friday, May 2.

The successful operation represents part of a concerted effort to curb a recent increase in non-dwelling burglary and theft offences in the areas bordering the North 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 around £50,000 of property suspected of being stolen has now been recovered during the course of this operation and a previous Warwickshire police led operation at the site on April 17.

"Where we receive information from the public and victims of crime we will act to arrest those individuals responsible and recover property wherever possible and as soon as possible.

"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," he added.

3:02pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

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