Five held after car theft raids
EARLY morning raids linked to more than 50 burglaries where cars worth £750,000 were stolen saw five people arrested and firearms recovered
Police swooped at five addresses in Stockport making an arrest at each early on Thursday morning.
The raids follow six months of investigation into a huge increase in burglaries, largely in Stockport but also into Derbyshire.
Detective Inspector Chris Flint said it was a concerted bid to tackle a major organised crime group operating out of Brinnington.
He said: “Before Christmas there was a huge spike in burglary. It has been horrendous for the general public.
“Hopefully it will give them confidence they need to have a voice and break the cycle of fear and intimidation.”
The burglaries typically targeted high end cars such as Audis, Volkswagens and Mercedes.
All arrests were made on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary. The five men appeared at Stockport Magistrates Court on Friday.
Daniel Stephen Lloyd, 25, of Middlesex Road, Brinnigton, was charged with conspiracy to burgle and cannabis possession.
Aaron Lee Sowter, 24, of Northumberland Road, Brinnington, was charged with conspiracy to burgle and cannabis possession.
Wayne Hester, 21, of Lapwing Lane, Brinnington, was charged with conspiracy to burgle.
Christopher Hargreaves, 35, of Middlesex Road, Brinnington, was charged with conspiracy to burgle, cannabis possession and two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon.
Regan Harte, 18, of Morgan Place, Reddish, was charged with conspiracy to burgle.
All five have been remanded in custody to appear at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court on August 18.