Chorley police have arrested 22 people and netted a £70,000 Aladdin's cave of goods following a crackdown on known criminals.

Dedicated teams, including the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) team, have executed warrants and high visibility police patrols have been targeting crime hot spots to disrupt offenders as part of the crackdown launched on Monday, October 10.

Items recovered include DVD and CD copying equipment, mountain bikes, garden equipment, power tools and thousands of CDs and DVDs.

A Subaru Impreza high performance sports car was also recovered and the driver was arrested. Following further inquiries by ANPR the vehicle was linked to a crime in Blackpool, which involved the Subaru and other vehicles, with a cash value of £66,500.

Eight warrants were executed with nine people charged, six people released on police bail, one man remanded to HMP Lancaster Farms for breach of bail and another recalled to prison. One man received a caution and three people were released without charge. One man received a reprimand for having an offensive weapon.

Acting Detective Inspector Jo South, who arranged the operation, said it had disrupted criminals so much they have been handing themselves in.

She said: "There have been people who we've been seeking that have turned up at the police station admitting to crimes because they know we will get them. They are basically sending themselves to prison.

"This kind of activity gives out a strong message to our offenders that we know who you are, what you are doing and you will be caught but at the same time reassuring members of the public about the work the police are doing."