Eight held in burglary swoop (From Witney Gazette)

Eight held in burglary swoop

EIGHT people have been arrested following an investigation into more than 100 burglaries across England including two in Oxfordshire.

Police raided four homes in London last night and one man has been charged.

Detectives have linked more than 100 burglaries across south and central England including two break-ins in Eynsham in August and Kidlington in October.

The arrests were the culmination of an operation involving nine police forces - Thames Valley Police, Northamptonshire Police, Surrey Police, Bedfordshire Police, Essex Police, Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Leicestershire Constabulary, Hertfordshire Constabulary, and the Metropolitan Police Service.

Operation Freelance was launched in response to a series of about 100 overnight household burglaries committed across nine different force areas since April last year.

The warrants were executed at four properties in London early yesterday morning. Those arrested were taken to a police station in Hertfordshire to be interviewed.

Stan Matei, 42, from North London, has been charged with a number of burglary offences.

Seven others have been bailed pending further inquiries.

Detective Inspector Peter Fulton, of Surrey Police's Serious Crime Investigation Team, is leading the operation. He said: "This investigation demonstrates the ability of police forces to work together and share our resources and expertise.

"Our message to criminals who operate across force boundaries is clear - we will target you and when we do you will feel the combined investigative power of all the force areas you have chosen to commit crimes in."