Five people have been arrested in connection with a series of motorcycle thefts in the West Country. #
Four teenagers and a 52-year-old woman have been arrested by police in Bristol after a joint operation between police forces including Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.
Avon and Somerset Police reports that the arrests were related to a series of motorcycle thefts that took place over a four-day period in June.
Specifically, the bikes in question were motocross bikes, and Somerset and Avon Police also reports that cannabis was found and seized by police at one of the addresses raided by police.
“This is an ongoing investigation into the theft of motocross bikes with offences happening across borders,” Inspector Jon Nash of Avon and Somerset Police said. “We have worked closely with colleagues in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, resulting in the series of warrants carried out this morning.
“We know there is significant public concern around the theft of motorbikes, and we hope this positive action shows the public we take these offences seriously.”
The five people who were arrested are now in custody in Wiltshire, where they will be questioned about the offences. Wiltshire is of course also the home of the Foxhill motocross track, which hosted the Vet Motocross des Nations (VMXdN) on the weekend of 27 and 28 August. Team USA won the event with their all-star team of nine-times AMA National Champion Ryan Villopoto, 2020 AMA 450MX National Champion Zach Osborne, and 2001 AMA 125MX National Champion Mike Brown.
Wiltshire Police Detective Sergeant Darren Penny said: “Such partnership working, with our colleagues from Avon and Somerset Police, is hugely valuable and enables us to provide a coordinated approach to tackling such crimes.
“We are determined to track down offenders who blight our communities wherever they might be.”
