MORE than 20 people were arrested in dawn raids today as part of an operation aimed at Blackburn and Darwen's most prolific burglars

Two hundred police officers from all over the county began Operation Sutton at 6.30am today in the Mill Hill area of Blackburn.

A large quantity of what is believed to be stolen property, including electrical equipment, jewellery, credit cards and pedal cycles has been recovered from houses.

People arrested have been taken to police stations throughout Central and East Lancashire to be interviewed.

Blackburn and Darwen's police commander Superintendent Eddie Walsh said the operation, which was due to continue until at least until the end of the week, was intended to send out a message that Lancashire police mean business in tackling burglary.

Officers had been planning the raids since the end of last year.

He added: "Burglars are a prime target for police in this county. They bring so much misery to all sections of society and our aim is to strike a resounding blow against them, transferring fear from potential victims to the burglars themselves."

Chief Constable Pauline Clare has already insisted that intelligence-led policing is the way forward in the county.

Today's operation was co-ordinated from a control room at police headquarters in Hutton.

Mr Walsh added: "Operation Sutton is only the start and burglars are warned that if they continue to commit crime they are running a greater risk than ever before of being caught and brought to justice."

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