Essex Police have are targeting burglary in Brentwood as part of a new operation launched this week.

Officers have already made five arrests as part of Operation Albatross, which includes targeted patrols in Brentwood and Epping.

There will also be checkpoints set up to catch criminals travelling on the roads.

The arrests include one man, 20, from Harlow, and another man, 25, from North Weald on suspicion of theft from motor vehicles. A warrant was carried out in Mountnessing yesterday and led to the arrest of three men on suspicion of going equipped for burglary.

Temporary chief inspector Tracey Harman said the tea, will be using intelligence analysis to focus on where offences could occur and will target routes in and out of the area.

She said: “The aim will be to put a stop to the traditional increase in burglary offences that we see between the summer and autumn.

“Last year the district experienced a 7.5 per cent increase in burglary when comparing figures for October to December against the previous three months.

“With high visibility policing being carried out at various points around the district we are also linking in with our partners from the Casualty Reduction Unit, Trading Standards and Epping Forest District Council.

“We aim to deny criminals the use of the road, increase road safety and provide community reassurance.”