Blitz on burglary is hailed for town

Police in Wem have hailed a week-long blitz on burglars as a success after a "prolific offender" was arrested on suspicion of three burglaries.

Pete Elson, community support officer for Wem, said today: "Officers have been doing additional targeted patrols in the area to catch or disrupt known criminals.

"A local persistent prolific offender has been arrested on three counts of burglary and is currently held in custody on remand."

The crackdown was all part of the West Mercia Constabulary's Operation Protect which focused on combating burglary and theft across the force area last week.

Officers in Wem also spent the week giving residents advice on minimising the risk of becoming the victim of sneaky criminals.

Police held an open surgery at the Co-Op in Wem and showed a variety of locks and security devices to shoppers wanting tips on shed security.

Constable Dave Carpenter led a group of young volunteers from Thomas Adams School on a leaflet drop to over 500 households in the town giving advice on avoiding being a victim of burglars.

Officers also dished out anti-burglary devices including SmartWater and window magnets to previous victims of burglaries in Wem.

Anyone with any queries about the operation can contact Wem Police Station on 03003 333000.