Six arrested in Leeds after investigation into theft from lorries across UK
Five men and a woman were detained this morning
Six people have been arrested in Leeds over organised thefts from lorries across the country.
Homes have been raided in the Belle Isle and Kirkstall areas this morning, with five men and one woman aged between 27 and 56 being detained.
Officers also seized a large amount of stolen goods, as well as a stun gun and other weapons.
Detective Superintendent Al Burns, of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, said:
“We’ve recently increased the staffing of our Regional Intelligence Unit to develop a more front foot approach, which has given the team an increased capability to speedily turn live intelligence into timely proactive operations targeting a range of criminality.
“A key focus of that heightened proactivity is organised acquisitive crime, and today’s operation is the latest instalment in what will be a series of similar operations over the coming weeks and months.
“Organised theft from heavy goods vehicles is a significant issue nationally, with an average of nine offences per day amounting to a total cost of £65 million last year."
"The wider impact includes the trauma caused to drivers who confront the thieves, as well as damage to vehicles, replacement transport, missed deliveries, insurance costs, and disruption to supply chains, with customers often facing higher prices as a result.”