TWO Bromsgrove residents were arrested following a raid on a Bromsgrove property as part of a major police operation.

Officers chainsawed their way into the house in Foxwalks Avenue, Rock Hill, in the early hours of Thursday morning, (March 27).

A man aged 25-years-old and a woman aged 32, were arrested on suspicion of theft and taken into custody.

They have both been bailed to appear at a police station on April 12.

The dramatic raid was one of a number carried out as part of the high profile police operation across Worcestershire.

The aim of Operation Protect, which involves more than 2,000 staff, was to show the commitment to protecting the public by the West Mercia Police and Warwickshire workforce.

The operation began at 5am and saw more than 40 warrants carried out alongside Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) operations to tackle criminals.

Operation Protect was the largest operation ever delivered across all communities served by the alliance.

In Bromsgrove, the operation included:

• a safer outside schools campaign, to improve general safety including targeting parking in no parking zones.

• a property marking promotion in the town centre - run with Bromsgrove fire brigade, encouraging residents to mark items so they can be recovered easier if stolen.

• a campaign to get residents to be aware of scams designed to get bank details.

• patrols targeting the nuisance of boys racers were carried out in the town centre, in Catshill, and Buntsford Hill.

Deputy Chief Constable Anthony Bangham said the day was about opening the doors on the world of policing to give residents the chance to see the work carried out to protect the community.

He said: "Every single member of our alliance, no matter what their job title, plays an important role in protecting our communities from harm every day of the year.

"We are dedicated to being open and transparent. This is our chance to give one clear strong message that we are here to catch criminals, prevent crime, tackle anti-social behaviour and to engage with our communities to reassure them and to keep them safe."