POLICE stopped vehicles and visited homes in the Dorchester area as part of an operation to target rural crime.

Safer Neighbourhood Teams and colleagues from the road policing unit carried out patrols in a bid to prevent and detect rural acquisitive crime in the area.

Dorchester and Sherborne Neighbourhood Police Sergeant Rachel Goodwin said: “This operation gave officers the chance to speak with members of public living in rural areas, providing a vital link between the police and local community. We were also able to reassure residents that Dorset Police is committed to tackling rural crime.

“Our stop-checks also sent out a very clear message to criminals that we will not tolerate such activity.

“I would urge anyone with information about criminal activity in their community to call 101 in confidence.”

The operation, which was also carried out in Sherborne, involved house-to-house visits to enable officers to gather intelligence from residents about any suspicious activity they may have seen in their community as well as checks on vehicles.

People can find further advice and information regarding securing their property by attending neighbourhood engagement events, advertised on the local policing section of the Dorset Police website dorsetpolice.co.uk

Residents can also visit the ‘Sheducation’ facility at Poundbury Garden Centre in Dorchester which provides essential advice regarding security of sheds and outbuildings.