POLICE were out in force stopping vehicles as part of a bid to drive down burglaries.

The crackdown – codenamed Operation Actinium – came in the wake of a spate of burglaries in the Wickford North ward in recent weeks.

Several homes have been broken into, with the raids all mainly taking place in the afternoon. Crooks smashed back doors and stole hauls worth thousands. Homes in Elder Avenue, Wick Lane, Swan Lane and Southend Road were among those targeted.

Officers ran the three-day crackdown last Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Based in Southend Road, they stopped vehicles, such as transit vans, and searched them as they looked for stolen goods, or tell-tale tools, such as jemmies, used by thieves to commit burglaries.

They also targeted people for general motoring offences.

Sgt Rob O’Sullivan, who led the operation, said: “We have intelligence around the burglaries that have been committed, so we’re looking for specific people and vehicles. Southe- nd Road is a major trunk road likely to be used by burglars travelling to the area.”