Dorset Police make arrests in Rural Crime Operation

We are lucky to live in such a safe part of the country, however rural crime is on the increase.  More and more reports of stolen farm machinery, diesel, metallic objects and even churches are not safe from pilfering fingers stealing the lead off the roof.

Dorset Police are cracking down on Rural crime and have begun a campaign to halt the criminal trend of ransacking our rural areas.

Officers from Purbeck, East Dorset and Dorchester took part in the operation which targeted rural crime including theft, poaching and criminal damage.  Two men – a 48-year-old from Lytchett Matravers and a 69-year-old from Poole – and a 15-year-old boy from Lytchett Matravers were arrested on suspicion of poaching offences in the Mapperton area.

Through the operation, which ran into the early hours of the morning, officers carried out high visibility patrols in order to prevent and detect any potential rural acquisitive crime.  During the operation, officers spoke to local farmers and other members of rural communities to see if any suspicious vehicles or individuals were in the area. Officers then carried out stop checks on these vehicles, and on any other suspicious vehicles that they found.

 Purbeck Neighbourhood Inspector, Tracey Baker, said: "We take rural crime extremely seriously.  "Offences such as metal and diesel theft, poaching, damaging fences and gates and outbuildings being broken into all have a major impact on our communities. Through this operation, we provided a high visibility presence and engaged with our rural residents.  A large number of vehicles were stopped for crime prevention and intelligence gathering purposes."