Wanted man's luck runs out

The long arm of the law has caught up with a man wanted in connection with burglaries carried out in Frome – after police stopped his housemate in Bristol yesterday in relation to the riots there.

Police had been seeking the 32-year-old man for months in connection with a string of burglaries from businesses and schools in Frome, Bath and Bristol.

When officers stopped another man in the street in the Stokes Croft area of Bristol last night, PC Hannah Holden thought the address he gave sounded familiar.

PC Holden said, "When the man gave us his address I immediately recognised it as the last known address for the man we were seeking and thought if it was occupied again it was possible he would be there too. 

"I called in for back-up and then discreetly followed the man back to the property."

When her colleagues joined her, they became convinced the suspect was in the property.

A search revealed the wanted man hiding behind the fridge. Officers also found £2,000 in cash and a small cannabis factory in a room upstairs.

Inspector Steve Appleton said, "This man is suspected of targeting vulnerable people, businesses and schools. 

"PC Holden's quick thinking and attention to detail has enabled us to finally catch up with him and put him before the courts.

"We hope that this sends a clear message to anyone considering getting involved in criminality in Avon and Somerset. 

"Our officers are dedicated to putting criminals behind bars and will be relentless in tracking you down no matter how hard you try to hide from us."

Anyone with information about criminals operating in their area is asked to contact the police on 0845 456 7000.  

Alternatively, to give information anonymously, people can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 – callers are not asked for their names and calls cannot be traced.