Five arrested in connection with spate of car key burglaries in the Black Country
Five men have been arrested following a spate of car key burglaries in the Black Country in which Land Rovers and Range Rovers were targeted.
On Thursday police arrested three men, aged between 26 and 28, after they were spotted in a car off Hospital Street in Walsall.
Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered number plates, phones and other equipment often used to steal cars.
Following further investigation, police arrested a 19-year-old man from his home address in Bloxwich on suspicion of the theft of a Land Rover Discovery in Brewood, Staffordshire, last month.
West Midlands Police teamed up with Staffordshire Police in the operation to arrest a fifth man, aged 21, from his home address in Oxley.
All five men have been taken to police custody.
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "Vehicle crime remains a priority for us as we do not underestimate the inconvenience and distress having a car stolen causes.
"We have a range of tactics at our disposal to tackle vehicle crime offenders, particularly those who commit these crimes on a large scale.
"We are continuing our crackdown on organised criminality under Operation Target which sees us take a defiant stand against a range of serious and organised crime offences – from drug dealing and burglary to cyber-crime and fraud."