POLICE raids targeting handlers of stolen goods discovered an "Aladdin's cave" in the first two days of Operation Freedom in Burnley and Pendle.

This first stage of the car crime operation is targeted at receivers of property stolen from vehicles.

Operation Freedom started in Burnley on Monday and spread to raids on commercial premises in Pendle yesterday.

Sgt Jim Masterman said: "When we executed a search warrant on a particular commercial premises in Nelson we recovered an Aladdin's cave of property which we believe may have been stolen."

The property, mainly tools, was taken to Burnley police station.

Homes and commercial premises in Burnley and Padiham have been searched and more will be searched during the rest of the week.

Sgt Masterman said they were trying to identify tool sets, commercial vehicle jacks, welding equipment and that type of property.

"It may be that we will have to have an open day and invite people to come along and try to identify property that they have had stolen."

Anyone who has been subject to recent car crime and has lost that type of property is asked to ring police on 01282 472273.

Search warrants will continue to be served throughout the division throughout the week in an attempt to cause maximum disruption to car criminals and the people who handle stolen property. Sgt Masterman said: "Then we will move into the second phase of the strategy, details of which we cannot reveal at the moment."

Operation Freedom is a five-strong police unit in the Pennine Division, which covers Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, set up to look at the causes and consequences of all aspects of vehicle crime.

The team has been put together in direct response to the levels of car crime in the division.

PC Derek mitchell is pictured with some of the stolem property

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