Five men and two women have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary after three vehicles were stopped by police on the M6 near Fulwood.

Tac Ops patrols made the proactive stops on Friday evening (28 January) as part of Operation Vanquish.

After a Nissan Juke was stopped, two men aged 19, a 29 year-old man and a 26-year-old woman from the St Helens area were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary.

At a similar time, patrols spotted a Renault Clio and a Vauxhall Astra also on the M6 at Fulwood. The vehicles were subsequently stung in Leyland Way, Leyland.

A number of the vehicles’ occupants tried to run off but following the deployment of specialist resources, including the police helicopter, two men aged 19 and 27 and a 42-year-old woman, also from the St Helens area, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary.

All three vehicles have been seized and enquiries are continuing. The seven people remain in police custody.

Read more: South Ribble and Chorley residents urged to hide keys after multiple car thefts

Chief Inspector Patrick Worden said: “This is a fitting way to round off our second Op Vanquish week of action where we have been targeting wanted acquisitive criminals and those we suspect of carrying out burglaries and vehicle crime.

“I want to send a very clear message that Lancashire is not a place to come and commit crime. We have pro-active patrols out, especially around our borders, and we are determined to disrupt and arrest those people who try to do so.

“I know the huge impact burglary and other acquisitive crimes can have on our communities and we will do everything we can to target those involved. Operation Vanquish is all about dealing with the crimes that matter most to people and making our streets and communities across Lancashire safer.”

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