Kent News - Yourmaidstone joins cops for burglary raids

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Friday, September 3 2010, 5:58

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Yourmaidstone joins cops for burglary raids

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Officers smash and kick through door

Seized drugs

Terrified screams and deafening crashes filled a usually peaceful cul-de-sac when uniformed officers swooped on an unsuspecting house in a series of organised raids, Anna White exclusively reports from the scene.

The shocked cries were from a female tenant at the house in Stanhope Road, Ringlestone, who was the first to greet to the officers as the smashed their way through the front door on Thursday morning.

The dramatic forced entrance into the property at 9am felt like it was over in seconds as the six officers silently jumped from the marked van, ran to the front door and forced entry with a heavy boulder-type tool.

After spending about an hour searching the house in great detail – with help from a specially-trained police dog – three offenders were marched out and into the awaiting vehicles.

The officers had discovered at least 30 wraps of what is believed to be class A drugs, a quantity of cash and six mobile phones.

The suspected criminals - a 27-year-old woman and two men, one 19 years old and the other 35 years old - were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

All three have been released on bail until Monday, April 26.

The raided house was originally targeted as part of an operation across Mid Kent to catch suspected and known burglars.

Although nothing connected to a burglary offence was found in the property, the officers were pleased with their findings.

Sergeant John Marshall, of Maidstone’s Tact Team, said: “The aim of the day was to have a concerted drive against burglars.

“Burglary has a huge impact on people’s lives and is a crime that is often linked with drug-taking and dealing.

“It has been an excellent result but the good work doesn’t stop there.

“What we achieved could open another four doors tomorrow and that in turn could open another 12 next week.”

The second raid was different to the first as the officers, with me in tow, were forced to run up the stairs in an apartment block near the town centre and force their way into a flat shortly after 1pm.

It proved to be negative, but Srg Marshall assured me they had real reason to suspect the owner and the check was necessary.

Both of the raided houses had been left with damage doors - which a contractor quickly appeared to repair – but I wanted to know why they couldn’t just ring the door bell.

The officers explained a spontaneous entry stops the suspect hiding any drugs or escaping before the police enter.

While the team and I was busy kicking down doors near the town centre, other force teams had arrested three residents in other areas.

A 15-year-old from Chart Sutton was charged with burglary, he will appear at Maidstone Youth Court next Monday, and Lewis O’Brien, 19, of Cambridge Crescent, was charged with theft and possession of controlled drugs in Sutton Road – he was remanded to court on Friday.

A 23-year-old man was arrested in Wallis Avenue, Park Wood, on suspicion of burglary, but was later released without charge.

It proved to be busy day for the Mid Kent Tactical Teams which led to full holding cells at Maidstone and Swale stations.

POSTED: 10/03/2010 08:45:00