Crime crackdown reels in suspects
Robbery suspects who evaded capture have been arrested by police in Dudley following the launch of a major crackdown to bring them to justice.
Robbery suspects who evaded capture have been arrested by police in Dudley following the launch of a major crackdown to bring them to justice.
Detectives today said an operation to reel in those who have slipped through the net was a success.
Following several tip-offs from the public, officers caught up with seven suspects.
Of these, two have been remanded in custody, three have been charged and bailed with conditions not to enter the borough of Dudley and a further two are on police bail while further enquiries are carried out. Detective sergeant Andy Fennell, at Dudley CID, said: "Further intelligence has been gathered in relation to criminal networks and other robbery suspects which are being investigated.
"Bringing offenders to justice when they may think they have avoided capture gives me great satisfaction. All victims and witnesses in these matters are being fully supported by detectives and witness care.
"I would like to thank the public for their support and information and would welcome any more intelligence they may have to pass on."
An operation was carried out last week as officers try to improve the robbery detection rate in the division which covers central Dudley, Sedgley, Coseley, Gornal and Brierley Hill.
This is 12.4 per cent which falls below the force target of 25 per cent of robberies reported.
However police in Dudley North are exceeding the annual target of an eight per cent reduction in the number of robberies.
The reduction is 20.4 per cent meaning there is a fifth fewer victims than this time last year.
During the operation a dedicated robbery car manned by experienced officers was out each day between 2pm and 10pm when most robberies are committed.
Ds Fennell added: "In addition there were hotspot patrols in parks where for example we know people are particularly vulnerable.
"Often offenders come from outside the borough and travel in on the bus network, they target parks where there are young people and surround them and rob them of their mobile phones.
"There is no CCTV, it's dark and there are not many people about and those that are will be too scared to come forward."
Officers released footage of a knifepoint robbery on a bus and images were published in the Express & Star. This resulted in calls from members of the public identifying one of the women.
