Black Country teenagers among suspects for 45 burglaries across Shropshire, Birmingham and Worcestershire
Eight people have been arrested in relation to 45 burglaries across Shropshire, Birmingham and Worcestershire after a series of morning raids.
Officers stormed a number of properties in south Birmingham in the early hours of today in relation to the theft of car keys and a total of 26 cars throughout the region.
The burglaries were carried out between December 17 last year and February 7.
Three children were among the suspects detained by police, including a 16-year-old from Dudley.
The other children were a 17-year-old from Bartley Green and a 17-year-old from Weoley Castle, both in Birmingham.
All three were arrested on suspicion of dwelling burglary, as were the five adult suspects who included an 18-year-old from West Bromwich.
The other suspects arrested were a 20-year-old from Turves Green, Birmingham, a 24-year-old from Ladywood, Birmingham, and two 18-year-olds from Rednal and Rubery.
Police said all of those arrested were male and the operation was carried out in collaboration between West Mercia Police and neighbouring West Midlands Police following a joint investigation.
Detective Constable Kirsty Hill, of West Mercia Police, said: "Burglary can have a significant impact on victims and their families and I hope that this dedicated operation reassures our communities that we take these crimes seriously and will work with our neighbouring forces to ensure a coordinated and joint response to tackling the.
"Ten of the stolen vehicles have been recovered so far and our investigation very much still continues."
