Local Police Target Burglary Rise

Four teenagers have been arrested as Kent Police officers continue their work on Operation Castle, their force-wide crackdown on burglary and vehicle crime.

Officers executed warrants and swooped on suspected burglars in theSittingbourne area, with four arrests since the weekend.

* On Sunday 3rd February, a 14-year-old boy from Sittingbourne was arrested in connection with a burglary committed in Park Road, Sittingbourne, the previous day, while on Monday 4th February a 17-year-old male, also from Sittingbourne, was arrested in connection with the same crime. Both have been bailed pending further investigation.

* On Thursday 7th February, officers executed a search warrant at Pembury Court, on Pembury Street in Sittingbourne, searching for stolen goods. A 19-year-old man was arrested and was in police custody held on suspicion of burglary.

In addition, a 16-year-old boy from Whitstable was charged with handling stolen goods on Wednesday 6th February after he was arrested in connection with a stolen bike taken from a shed in Park Road, Sittingbourne on 7th January. He will appear at Maidstone Magistrates' Court on Monday 25th February.

Toby Earnshaw-Glazier, 18, of London Road in Sittingbourne, appeared at Maidstone Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 5th February charged with burglary other than dwelling, officers caught him fleeing a garage he had broken into. Earnshaw-Glazier pleaded guilty and was handed a suspended prison sentence of 117 days. He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and given a curfew.

You can find out the latest on Kent Police's Operation Castle at:- http://www.kent.police.uk/news/latest_news/130205_op_castle_lau.html# or on Twitter #OpCastle.