DRUGS and car crime topped the list when officers from the Wath Safer Neighbourhood Team took part in an operation in Wath-upon-Dearne and West Melton on Wednesday.
They were supported by teams from across the Rotherham District, the drugs and burglary units, traffic officers and community support officers for Operation Crease.
“The message to criminals is that we don’t stop policing for Christmas,” said District Commander Ch Supt Matt Jukes.
“If they don’t stop their activities they’ll be spending the festive period behind bars.”
Drugs warrants were executed on nine properties. One was in Wath-upon-Dearne, two in West Melton, two in Swinton and others in Swinton, Rawmarsh and Thrybergh. An alleged ‘crackhouse’ was shut down by a separate team in Rawmarsh. One man was arrested for possession of cannabis and given a caution, another for the cultivation of cannabis and a third for possession of controlled drugs. A 25 plant hydroponics factory, which was also abstracting electricity, was shut down at Swinton.
Cars were pulled up by officers and checked after passing through the Automatic Number Plate Reader (ANPR) which was strategically placed around the area during the 12 hour operation. It immediately registers any default in vehicle tax or ownership.
As a result of the checks a man from West Melton was arrested for driving while disqualified. Officers issued two penalty tickets for not wearing seat belts, three for mobile phone offences and two vehicles were recovered without insurance. Twenty-five deals of crack cocaine were found in one in the Mexborough Denaby area.
“I’m very happy with the results,” said Sgt Billy Bell of Wath SNT. “The intelligence we’ve had has proved positive and I’d urge the general public to continue to use Crimestoppers and give us a call.”
The operation, which ran from 8am until 8pm, is part of Operation Impact on Christmas Crime which was launched across South Yorkshire on Monday and will run continuously until Friday December 22.
• A late night shopper at a Wath-upon-Dearne superstore fought off a man who opened her car door and demanded her mobile phone and purse on Monday at 10pm. Officers urge shoppers to be wary and look their car doors.
