Eight arrested over £100,000 cigarettes burglaries

Police officers arrested eight people today in connection with more than 20 burglaries involving the thefts of cigarettes worth £100,000.

Around 100 officers were involved in the operation in Southampton and those arrested range in age from 15 to 29 years. They are currently being questioned by detectives.

Police raided 14 properties in the city and said a number of items were recovered that were believed to have been stolen.

Since the beginning of August, more than 20 properties have been broken into in and around Southampton where cigarettes and other items were stolen.

Small groups of four or five burglars wearing dark clothing targeted mainly convenience stores and also houses and sheds in the early hours of the morning.