Police and TV bosses hail crackdown on illegal set-top boxes (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Police and TV bosses hail crackdown on illegal set-top boxes

10:39am Wednesday 30th April 2008 in

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TV BOSSES believe they have smashed a "massive" crime ring selling illegal digital boxes.

Around 200 set-top boxes were seized and six people arrested after a series of raids in Blackburn and Preston.

The raids came after a joint police and Virgin Media investigation into the suspected illegal use and modification of digital TV set-top boxes.

Virgin Media has now said that documents and computer records seized in Monday's swoops on seven locations showed that the 200 set-top boxes could just be the "tip of the iceberg".

Rebecca Burke, from the media company, said: "We are aware that they may have traded a great deal more than just the number of boxes that were seized.

"There are extensive records that need to be investigated and carefully looked at. Equipment was sold across the country, not just in Lancashire."

Police raided two houses in Livingstone Road, Blackburn, two in Assheton Road, Blackburn, and one in Duchy Avenue, Preston. Two industrial units were also targeted in Blackburn, one in Hamilton Street and a second in George Street West.

Five men and one woman arrested on suspicion of committing offences under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 have been bailed pending further inquiries.

The investigation centred on set-top boxes which had been modified to illegally receive pay channels for free.

Sgt Colin Dassow said: "Members of the public should be reminded that using set-top boxes that have been illegally modified to receive digital TV subscription channels are committing a criminal offence.

"Anyone receiving these channels and making no payment to the respective media company is at risk of being prosecuted."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0845 1 25 35 45 or the Virgin media fraud security line on 0800 096 7800.

• Click on the link below for how we exclusively brought you the story on Monday.