Five men were arrested in dawn raids in Wolverhampton yesterday morning in connection with a series of burglaries across the West Midlands and Staffordshire.

Police swooped in a series of dawn raids as they cracked down on a gang suspected to be behind 70 burglaries.

Officers from West Midlands and Staffordshire Police joined forces to simultaneously swoop on the gang at locations in Wolverhampton. The force said it has been investigating a spate of break-ins using CCTV footage, forensic evidence and other information to link the offences.

A police spokesman said a series of raids had involved thieves breaking into factories and stores via the roof. Once inside safes were plundered. Golf courses and scrap metal dealers have also fallen victim to the gang.

Around £500,000 is believed to have been stolen from businesses as far afield as Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Wombourne.

Forty officers from both forces were involved in the sting which is designed to combat a rise in burglary rates.

The five men arrested are being held on suspicion of conspiracy to burgle. They include a 22-year-old from Heath Town; 26-year-old from Bilston; 26-year-old from Low Hill; 47-year-old from Willenhall; and a 29-year-old man from Low Hill.