POLICE have arrested 55 suspected crooks behind a spate of car crimes - including one man found hiding in a cupboard during an early-morning raid.

 

The Evening Times can today exclusively reveal details of the month-long operation, which has culminated in a series of dramatic dawn raids and scores of arrests.

Fifty-five suspected thieves are accused of almost 200 offences, including nicking high-value cars to order and vehicle break-ins.

Thieves are also targeting taxis, in a bid to steal cabbies' takings.

More than 20 specially deployed officers have scrutinised the backgrounds, lifestyles and movements of suspects, while carrying out covert surveillance in hotspots.

Operation Quarterlight - which is specifically targeting serial offenders, has proven a success, with homes in Pollokshields, Govanhill, Mount Vernon, Bridgeton, Milton and Shettleston raided yesterday.

And in the past month, officers have stormed a number of properties and arrested 55 people in Greater Glasgow.

The Evening Times joined officers as they carried out a series of raids on the homes of key suspects across the city.

Six officers, who were dressed in plain clothes, surrounded one flat in Finnart Street, Bridgeton, at around 7.30am yesterday.

Initially, the occupants refused to answer the persistent calls to open the front door.

However, after realising the police were not leaving, a woman and a young baby appeared at the door, and officers moved inside.

Moments later a 21-year-old - who was located within a cupboard - was apprehended and led away in handcuffs.

He was arrested and taken to a city police station for questioning.

He is expected to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court today in connection with a series of alleged offences, including theft by opening a lockfast place and theft by housebreaking.

Detective Inspector Jim Bradley, who is leading the operation, believes pro-active work is behind the immediate success of Quarterlight.

He told the Evening Times: "We have launched Operation Quarterlight to proactively target car crime and vehicle theft, with our ultimate aim to reduce the number of victims affected by this crime and arrest those responsible.

"We know that many thieves take advantage of circumstances and we are asking our communities to work with us to drive down the number of incidents.

DI Bradley urged people to be aware of opportunistic thieves, adding: "Together, let's make it as difficult as possible for criminals, don't leave anything in your car which could warrant unwanted attention and leave you with a smashed window.

"Don't make it easy for them and don't let your car be the vehicle that the opportunist thief targets."

This week, officers have focused their attention on those suspected of repeatedly breaking into cars and stealing vehicles.

A 43-year-old man was also detained yesterday in connection with five alleged housebreakings.

DI Bradley also believes there are around 20 individuals responsible for multiple offences and, if found guilty, could be facing lengthy jail sentences.

High-value cars are being targeted and thieves were sneaking into unlocked homes to steal vehicles to sell or joyride.

Police said some were using wire with magnets to 'fish' keys from secure homes.

Other vehicles are being sold on to crime gangs to be used in robberies, as well as transporting drugs and stolen goods.

Police estimated criminals were stealing high-value cars to order, getting around £1,000 a time.

They said the problem was particularly evident in posh suburbs, where the high value thefts were taking place.

In other issues of Glasgow, the issue was more with cars being broken into and personal items, including sat-navs, mobile phones and laptops being stolen.

Assistant Chief Constable Campbell Thomson said: "This is an issue we are tackling across Scotland and we recognise the negative impact it has on our local communities.

"Our sustained activity as part of Operation Quarterlight is already yielding encouraging and positive results and I would like to reassure the public that those involved in this activity will be continually targeted by officers.

"Those responsible will be arrested and held to account."