A MAN has been arrested during a series of early morning raids in Trowbridge by police investigating a spate of burglaries.

Five properties were targeted after police intelligence linked them to a string of thefts across Trowbridge and Melksham.

A 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen goods and drugs offences.

A supply of metal was also recovered from a house on Frome Road, Trowbridge, along with substances police believe to be illegal drugs.

The man was taken into custody at Melksham police station after the raids on Thursday last week.

Armed officers also forced their way into a house in Aldeburgh Place, breaking the lock on a door at 8am. Nothing suspicious was found at the property, which was searched using a drugs sniffer dog.

Another raid took place in Wingfield Road, where officers spent almost two hours at a house. A woman remained inside during the search, while neighbours came to collect two young children.

Police Community Support Officers were also in action in the area, going door-to-door to speak to neighbours.

Sgt James Brain, who led the operation, said: “As well as acting on intelligence to disrupt criminal activity, it has been about keeping people safe and seeing officers on the streets.

“We’ve had PCSOs on the street, providing community assistance, and we want to send a clear message that if you are going to commit crime in Wiltshire we will be there to bang on your door.”

Acting Det Insp Mark Kent, who helped run the operation, said: “This work is very much part of a wider burglary initiative. The activity is about finding and targeting people who cause harm and distress to the community.

“The aim of carrying out work like this is to bring about convictions and disrupt criminal behaviour.

“The key message we want to get across, also, is that the community can work together to reduce these sorts of crimes.

“We need community vigilance, wherever possible, and we are looking for residents across Wiltshire to call 101 or Crimestoppers if they see any suspicious vehicles in their areas, or notice usual behaviour. I also want to emphasise that we live in a safe community and the rate of these crimes has reduced significantly, but we are not going to be complacent.”