Crackdown on crime across Somerset (From Somerset County Gazette)

Crackdown on crime across Somerset

8:00pm Monday 8th October 2012 in News

A TOTAL of 63 people have been arrested in three weeks in a crackdown on theft.

Most of the suspects were from Taunton and were taken in for crimes such as burglary, robbery and car crimes.

It was part of the police Operation Relentless covering the Somerset West patch, which also includes the Minehead and Bridgwater areas.

Police say serious acquisitive crime has fallen every year since 2009, but they believe a small number of individuals are behind a high percentage of total crime.

The 63 arrest include 24 on suspicion of burglary; five for alleged shoplifting; four for theft from cars; two each for theft, possession of drugs, going equipped to steal and robbery and one for a rogue trader offence.

A further 13 arrests, mainly in East Taunton, were made last week on 12 drugs warrants, with suspected heroin and crack cocaine seized.

And PCSOs visited 200 houses in Halcon to offer crime prevention advice and inform people of measures being taken to stamp out drug dealing.

Ch Insp Peter Saban said: “We've had a highly successful three weeks so far, providing an immediate and visible impact for our communities.

“Relentless gives us an opportunity to target specific issues, bring the force together in one large operation and send a strong message to our communities - we care about everyone's safety, we won't tolerate those who are committing crime and will remain relentless in tracking down offenders and bringing them before the courts.”