In Leeds, police have arrested 11 people in a week long swoop on those suspected of being involved in the trade of stolen goods. The joint operation, which included officers from all three police divisions across Leeds working alongside Trading Standards officials, saw 37 residential and business premises searched across the city.
What West Yorkshire Police called a significant quantity of suspected stolen property has been recovered. Police have also seized what are believed to be class A drugs along with various amounts of cash and a taser style stun weapon.
Two men aged 19 and 20 were arrested after the taser was recovered from a terraced property on Sutherland Road, Harehills along with an amount of suspected class A cocaine worth around £900 and £500 in cash. The two men have subsequently been bailed by detectives.
In west Leeds, police found a large quantity of suspected stolen items including games consoles, power tools and what are believed to be counterfeit DVDs after they searched a property on the Heights West in Armley. Following a further examination of the scene, officers also discovered around a £1,000 pounds worth of suspected Class A cocaine. Enquiries are ongoing to trace those involved.
A 40-year-old man was arrested from a property on Grange Terrace, Pudsey on suspicion of handling stolen goods after suspected counterfeit designer clothing was discovered.
In the city centre two market stalls were searched by officers resulting in a 32-year-old local man being arrested for handling stolen goods and a further investigation being launched by Trading Standards after what is thought to be counterfeit branded cosmetics were being sold to the public.
Detective Chief Inspector Elizabeth Belton, who leads North East Leeds CID, said: "This operation was about tightening the net around those who provide burglars with an outlet for stolen property.
"Put simply these type of people are willingly accepting items stolen in burglaries and are attempting to make money off the back of other people’s misery.
"The discovery of suspected Class A drugs and the taser style weapon also provides a demonstration of how intrinsically linked serious and organised crime is to burglary and stolen property.
"Working alongside Trading Standards officials we have also been able to target those who we suspect of selling counterfeit products.
"While this may seem like a bargain at the time fake products will not have met the necessary tests you would expect and issues over inferior quality could not only leave you feeling out of pocket but could also potentially harm yourself or your family. As a general rule of thumb, if it sounds too good to be true, it normally is.
"While we continue to take action against those we suspect of being involved in the sale of stolen property, people can help us to combat burglary and remove the market for these people by ensuring the doors of your home are locked at all times and accessible windows are secured.
"With the warmer weather and lighter nights we tend to experience a traditional rise in so-called sneak in burglaries, which is where valuables are taken after access is gained through an unlocked door or open window, often when someone is in the property.
"Public information led us to arrest a number of people during Operation Bullseye and with local people’s continued support in terms of securing their own homes against sneak-in burglaries we can work towards making the communities of Leeds safer places to live."
