Stolen property returned to owners

Property valued at between 15,000 and 20,000 has been recovered from private addresses and antiques dealers alike in an investigation which has tentacles spreading nationwide.

Now burglary victims who have had their stolen property returned to them have been expressing their gratitude to Operation Salvo officers.

Clocks that had been in the family for 60 years were stolen from a Bexhill pensioner's home. He was so delighted when he received them back that he wrote to police:

"I wish to congratulate and thank your force for being able to locate and return larger items of my stolen property.

"Both clocks recovered have been in my family for over 60 years.

"I have found your officers courteous and helpful. This is in contrast to some of the comments I have read in letters to the local paper.

"Perhaps one of the clocks has a charmed life as the last time my property was burled about eight years ago the clock was removed from the mantlepiece and left in the centre of the room."

Following police "target-hardening" advice on securing his property, the householder has now replaced leaded-light windows with lockable double glazing. Inspector Max Mosley has arranged for Moat Care and Repair to fit a distraction burglary kit.

Sergeant Matt Brooks, in charge of day-to-day Salvo operations, said: "We have recovered a large amount of property from various places across the country in relation to Operation Salvo. It is literally nation-wide.

"A lot of it has been identified already. We are continuing inquiries with several people in relation to this property."

Operation Salvo was launched by new Rother district Chief Inspector, Rob Carden to combat rising crime. The rate of household burglaries in Bexhill and rural Rother was equalling that of Hastings.