Friday 13 sees 13 suspects in custody on suspicion of vehicle theft

Friday 13 has proved to be unlucky for suspected vehicle thieves as 13 people remain in custody as part of our clampdown.  

Proactive officers have been working hard alongside roads policing officers and neighbouring forces to share information, patrol hotspot areas and target prolific offenders in the county.

Earlier today (13 October), we were called to an address in Tamworth after a number of suspects stole the keys to a VW Golf. We tracked the stolen car into the Perry Bar area and stopped it. Four men were arrested on suspicion of a number of offences including vehicle theft and are still in custody.

On Thursday (12 October), we received a report that a Ford Transit had been stolen in Stafford. We found it a short time later, along with a car which was seen in the area at the time. We searched the inside and found cash, cannabis and lots of car keys. We arrested:

• A 29-year-old man, from Birmingham, on suspicion of vehicle theft and being concerned in the supply of cannabis
• A 29-year-old man, from Sandwell, and a 32-year-old man, from Walsall, on suspicion of vehicle theft

All three are still in custody at this time.

Alongside this, we also worked with our colleagues at West Midlands Police to arrest a number of people on suspicion of conspiracy to steal motor vehicles. Five arrests were made in a 48-hour period and a separate arrest was made in Staffordshire whilst investigations continue.

Detective Inspector Adam Yates said: “Vehicle crime can have a profound impact on residents, businesses and livelihoods and we are committed to pursuing offenders and being proactive in our fight against vehicle crime.

“We know that there’s lots more to be done in this area and we’re continuing to investigate new reports and work alongside specialist units and teams to best police our roads on a 24/7 basis.

“Under Operation Bormus, vehicle crime remains a priority for all ten of our local policing teams. We know that working with neighbouring forces is key in making sure offenders are not able to escape their offending.

“We want to reassure the community that we are actively patrolling hotspot areas and proactively policing our roads to make sure we can continue bringing offenders to justice and protecting the hard-earned belongings of the communities we proudly serve.”

To read more about our work as part of Op Bormus, visit: More than 60 arrests made as officers continue vehicle theft clampdown | Staffordshire Police

On Wednesday night (11 October), we also followed two cars which failed to stop for officers in South Staffordshire and later seized two stolen cars and made two arrests. Read more here: Two arrests after officers seize stolen cars in convoy | Staffordshire Police