MERSEYSIDE Police hailed their latest sting of Operation Bumblebee a rousing success!

Over 35 arrests were made in Wirral in a week of early morning raids as part of the successful Operation Bumblebee. A total of 225 arrests were made throughout the whole of Merseyside.

Property worth an estimated value of over £120,000 has also been recovered, including firearms, suspected stolen cars, electrical goods, jewellery, war medals, a £2,000 diamond engagement ring, drugs, a stun gun, counterfeit cash, paintings and clothing.

Operation Bumblebee was launched in late 1995 with its primary objective to reduce the number of burglaries in people's homes, and make Merseyside a safer place. Police targeted known offenders, the Mersey Tunnels, and a series of road checks in Heswall.

As a result of the raids, one Bromborough man was arrested and charged with four offences, including preying on the elderly.

Director of Operations Paul Stephenson said: "Bumblebee remains one of our top priorities. We hope that by working together with our partners and every community in Merseyside, Bumblebee will mean there are less victims and less burglaries and this will make Merseyside a safer place.

"There have been dramatic falls in the number of burglaries on Merseyside and current figures are over half that of 10 years ago. However there is no room for complacency."

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