Police op suites gold
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• by Pete Swingler A major police operation to crack down on a notorious truck theft hot-spot has led to more than a dozen arrests and recovered enough stolen goads to fill two warehouses, Operation Coppergold was launched a few weeks ago in the West Midlands following the hijacking of more than 100 trucks in recent months carrying almost .£7.5m worth of goods. Police monitored vehicles at lorry parks, service stations and lay-bys for several weeks before arresting 13 people suspected of stealing Ins or handling stolen goods.
New tyres, heaters, drills and perfume were recovered following swoops on homes and premises in Penkridge, Staffs; other goods were recovered in raids at Wednesfield and at Willenhall, both near Wolverhampton. In another swoop near Dudley, £75,000 worth of vehicle parts and a trailer were recovered.
Superintendent Paddy Mulligan of Wednesfield police says the suspects are now being interviewed.
PC lain McKinnon who runs the National Stolen Lorry Loads Desk (NSI.LD) for Essex Police praised the operation: it's excellent news and it's won
derful that the West Midlands police have dedicated a team to look at lorry thefts in their area"
He adds that the West Midlands force has been working closely with the NSW]: It just shows what can be achieved when different police services are puffing together to achieve a common goal."
• lhe police are Oh investigating the killing of 31year-old Paul Chambers of Bilston, Staffs, who was shot outside a Wolverhampton pub a week ago. They believe the murder may be connected with the recent lorry thefts.