POLICE have recovered more than £100,000 worth of stolen property after a series of raids aimed at combating rural burglaries.

And more success could be on the cards as officers promise that more raids will be carried out in the area if they suspect that stolen property is on site.

On Tuesday, 25 officers from Whitehill police station, the divisional task unit, and the force support unit executed 16 warrants in and around Bordon and carried out detailed searches of farm and outbuildings which are suspected of housing stolen property.

It was the latest in a number of raids in the area which have so far resulted in officers recovering more than £100,000 worth of stolen items.

Whitehill Inspector Gerry Thorne told The Herald that the raids formed part of a large investigation by officers into thefts of tack, quad bikes, tools and other items from the rural area.

Instances of thefts have been on the increase, despite warnings to keep tools and other expensive items locked up securely if kept outside the house.

He said that there was evidence that a significant proportion of stolen items were in the Bordon area and were being kept in rural locations including outbuildings and sheds.

He said: ÒThis is part of our ongoing enquiries into these thefts.

ÒDuring a recent search of premises in Kingsley, we recovered a number of items including a trailer, a compressor and a six-month-old Mercedes.

ÒBut there are obviously still a lot of stolen items out there and we will be continuing our enquiries.Ó

This weekÕs raids were the largest to be carried out in connection with the rural thefts investigation and Insp Thorne is hopeful that its high profile will send out a positive message to the community as well as act as a warning to would-be thieves.

ÒWe are trying to get the message out there that we are getting it together and that we are getting results,Ó he said.

ÒThis is just the latest step in our enquiries but we are not going to stop here.

ÒWe want people to be warned that we will be keeping on top of this and if we believe that there are stolen goods on your land then we will be seeking a warrant and we will be visiting you.Ó

¥ Anyone with any information which could help police with their investigation are urged to contact officers at Whitehill police station on 0845 045 45 45.