21 December 2012

Officers have carried out almost 400 vehicle checks in West Norfolk since the start of December as part of Operation Tank.

Op Tank was launched across the district on Monday 3 December to combat rural crime – mainly diesel, heating oil and scrap metal thefts.

Officers worked closely with VOSA, HMRC and the Environment Agency during several high profile roadside operations and during the 382 vehicle checks, three were seized for using red diesel and one driver was found to be driving with no insurance.

As part of a separate incident, three men were arrested on suspicion of theft and several drums of diesel were seized after alarms sounded at an address in Leziate. The men have been bailed pending further enquiries.

There have been extra staff drafted in, including the Special Constabulary, who have been carrying out patrols in vulnerable areas.

Several hundred specially designed crime prevention packs have been handed out to previous victims and vulnerable locations.

The focus of the operation will now shift mainly to the southern and western parts of West Norfolk – from the Terrington and Walpole areas down to Methwold and Feltwell.

Supt Dave Marshall, West Norfolk, said: “We’ve already noticed a drop in the number of offences of heating oil and diesel thefts reported to us and are pleased that this operation is having an impact.

“Thefts like these clearly fuel other criminal activity and by targeting those that commit these offences, we are helping to reduce the number of crimes committed across the borough.”

Although the focus will shift to a specific part of the Borough, officers will continue carrying out checks on any suspicious vehicles across the whole of West Norfolk. If you spot any suspicious activity, contact police on 101 or 999 if a crime is taking place.