Wiltshire Police have recovered a stolen vehicle and arrested a man as part of a week-long vehicle crime campaign.
Now, officers are reminding the public to remain alert after the targeted action aimed at tackling organised motor crime across the county.
Running from 13 October to 19 October, officers took part in Operation Alliance, a national initiative focused on disrupting vehicle theft and associated criminal activity.
As part of the operation, officers from the Roads Policing Unit, Local Police Tasking Team and Neighbourhood Policing Teams carried out proactive patrols of Wiltshire’s main road networks.
Their efforts led to the recovery of a stolen vehicle in Swindon and the arrest of a man aged in his 20s.
He was detained on suspicion of failing to stop, dangerous driving, possession with intent to supply class A drugs, drug driving, criminal damage and aggravated vehicle taking.
Neighbourhood policing officers also worked with residents deemed most at risk of vehicle crime, distributing 20 specialist forensic DNA marking kits to help deter thieves and identify stolen cars.
Four officers from the Forensic Collisions Investigation Unit received specialist Stolen Vehicle Examiners training and new equipment to enhance evidence gathering and strengthen prosecutions.
Detective Inspector Steve Edwards, from the Burglary and Complex Fraud Team and the force lead for Operation Alliance, said that they recognised the impact that vehicle crime can have on communities. This includes disruption to livelihoods and making people feel unsafe in their own neighbourhoods.
“My message is simple; please report any suspicious circumstances to the police to help us build an accurate intelligence picture to bring offenders to justice,” he said.
“Information of interest includes descriptions of people acting suspiciously around vehicles and any locations you feel may be used to store stolen vehicles or their stripped parts.
“Often, stolen vehicles will be stored in other locations for several days to determine if the vehicle is fitted with a tracker, before they are again moved. If anything does not feel right, we urge you to get in touch.”
Since January, there have been 345 reports of vehicle theft in Wiltshire. National data shows that almost half of all vehicles stolen in 2024 were left unlocked.
Det Insp Edwards added: “I encourage everyone who owns or uses a vehicle to ensure it is locked as soon as it is left unattended to reduce the chances of theft by opportunist criminals.
“For vehicles with keyless entry, we suggest storing the vehicle’s keys in a radio frequency identification (RFID) blocker pouch to prevent relay theft.”
Operation Alliance saw Wiltshire Police working with national law enforcement agencies, including the National Crime Agency, Border Force, and Port Authorities.
