Essex Police are stopping motorists in Epping Forest as part of a clampdown on burgary (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Essex Police are stopping motorists in Epping Forest as part of a clampdown on burgary

8:28pm Saturday 4th July 2009 in

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STOP checks are being carried out on cars entering and leaving Epping Forest as part of a police operation to catch suspected burglars.

Operation Zest 2 will run until next Sunday (12) and is intended to catch people intending to commit burglaries in Epping Forest, Harlow and Brentwood.

Police insist a "number" of the checks will be intelligence-led, but only eight of the 250 stops so far have led to arrests.

Three people have been arrested on suspicion of burglary, and others have been arrested on suspicion of committing drugs offences, drink driving, fraud and theft.

Chief Supt Tim Stokes, of Essex Police, said: “Burglars cause misery to residents by causing damage to their homes and stealing their valuable possessions.

“I will not tolerate this or any crime happening in my division and as such have established this operation aimed to flush out any people intent on committing crime, especially burglary offences in my area."