This morning saw one of the constabulary’s largest ever drugs operations, codenamed Operation Vanguard. Eighteen dawn raids at properties in areas including Sutton, Waterbeach, St Ives, Burwell, Needingworth, Cottenham, Fulbourn, Huntingdon, Milton and Cambridge resulted in 18 arrests. This was the culmination of a long-term investigation into the large scale supply of class A drugs in Cambridgeshire, mainly high purity cocaine.

Arrests were also made today by police in Northamptonshire and Hampshire in connection with the same conspiracy. Of the arrests by Cambridgeshire officers, one was made in Chelmsford, Essex, and another at a property in Red Lodge, Bury St Edmunds, where cannabis plants were also discovered.

Officers will be visiting properties in the vicinity of the raids to update local residents on the policing operation.

I’d like to reassure you that these raids are part of the force’s ongoing campaign to stop class A drugs being sold in Cambridgeshire. The use and supply of drugs in not only illegal, it also fuels other types of crime. We take this type of offending very seriously and would urge anyone with information about drug dealing to contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111 or you can leave details online using their secure contact from – see link below.

Chief Inspector Darren Alderson,
Silver commander
Operation Vanguard

Attached is the recent press release from my colleague at Cambourne, DS Sarah Gaylor, following recent burglaries in our areas burglaries.

‘We are investigating a spate of thefts of expensive cars in the South Cambs area. Detectives are appealing for witnesses to the latest two, in Cottenham and Caldecote, which are believed to be linked. An Audi A4 was stolen from an address in Dunstall Field, Cottenham, between midnight and 7.45am on April 4. The front door was forced and the ignition keys taken from a drawer. A laptop computer was also taken. The car was recovered outside a property in West Drive, Highfields, Caldecote, today and was reported to have been there since Sunday (April 8).

Police believe whoever took the Audi may then have been responsible for the theft of another Audi, this time an S4 estate, from a property in Strympole Way, Highfields, Caldecote, between 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Sunday.
The thieves broke into the property through rear patio doors using a spade. They also stole a laptop computer.

The burglaries are being investigated alongside a series of others where vehicles including a VW Golf, BMW Z4, Audi A6, Ford Focus ST, and a Ford Galaxy have been stolen from addresses in Oakington, Willingham, Duxford, Haslingfield, Melbourn, Comberton, Fowlmere and Hardwick. The crimes have taken place in the past two months and detectives believe they may be linked.

Detective Sergeant Sarah Gaylor, who is leading a team of officers investigating the burglaries, said: “I am appealing for witnesses to both the recent burglaries, in Cottenham and then Caldecote, and would particularly like to hear from anyone who saw the Audi being left West Drive on Easter Sunday.

“We are taking these crimes very seriously and are keen to catch those responsible as soon as possible.

“However, we would also urge motorists to keep their car keys in a safe place where they are not easily accessible to a burglar and anyone who sees suspicious activity in their neighbourhood should not hesitate reporting it to police.” Anyone with information should contact Det Sgt Gaylor on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.’

We have had four dwelling further burglaries in the last 36 hours; two in Hardwick appear to be part of the series mentioned above when a Mercedes and BMW were stolen. A further offence in Shepreth and one in Meldreth do not appear to be linked to the series.

In addition to the good housekeeping regarding car keys mentioned above, please remember to ensure you doors and windows are secure. We are encountering victims of burglary that do not routinely lock doors or who have modern doors with multi lever locking systems which they may not be fully engaging when they lock up at night. Simple tips which may prevent you from being targeted by these criminals.

A final plea from me is if you see anything suspicious in your community, which may be connected with these offences, call us immediately – using 999 whenever necessary. A genuine but mistaken call from you will always be preferable to a missed opportunity to arrest the criminals targeting our neighbourhoods.

Sergeant Jon Capes

Cambourne Police Station.

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