DRAMATIC dawn raids have been carried out by police at addresses across Cheltenham.

Officers struck simultaneously at addresses in Springbank and Fiddler's Green at around 7.30am, leading to the arrest of a 32-year-old man from a property in Kingsbridge Mews.

He was taken on suspicion of burglary, handling stolen property and possessing illegal drugs.

The suspect covered his face with a hoodie as he was led away by officers, shouting profanities to the shock of neighbours, who were just getting up for work.

The raids, in which electrical goods worth thousands of pounds were seized, came as part of a massive crackdown on burglars in the town.

Inspector Roddy Gosden, who led the co-ordinated swoops, said the operation was aimed to strike at the heart of the town's criminal network.

"This was another big success building on top of the work we have been doing over the last few weeks," he said.

"It's important people realise if they are involved in handling stolen items it can be just as serious as stealing them.

"I would urge people to be wary of buying goods from unreliable sources.

"If it doesn't look legitimate then there's a good chance it isn't and if it turns out you are buying stolen goods then you can expect a visit from the police.

"At the heart of these crimes are victims who have paid for their belongings and had them taken away unlawfully. Today's raids are another breakthrough in bringing offenders to justice."

Properties in Harvest Grove and Fulbrook Close were targeted during the raids.

Items recovered from the three premises include two plasma screen TVs, a Sky box, a camcorder and a small quantity of cannabis – believed to be for personal use only.

It comes just 48 hours after officers swooped on a property in Triscombe Way, recovering laptops, TVs and an expensive mountain bike.

Over the past month, police say they have put some of the town's most prolific burglars behind bars, bringing with it a 21 per cent reduction in burglaries.

Insp Gosden added: "Through this series of raids we are showing burglars their actions will not go unpunished.

"We are picking up bits of intelligence from the community all the time and, as this particular offender has seen, we are taking swift and decisive action."

The 32-year-old suspect was being held in police custody yesterday.

Residents in Kingsbridge Mews were shocked to see the commotion outside their homes first thing in the morning.

One woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "It was a surprise to see police arresting the man and leading him away.

"But we don't want people living around here who give the area a bad name, so it's good they are rooting criminals out."