Mark BoggisPOLICE have today swooped to arrest five people for fraud offences as part of an operation to target rogue traders and distraction burglars in Lowestoft.Mark Boggis

POLICE have today swooped to arrest five people for fraud offences as part of an operation to target rogue traders and distraction burglars in Lowestoft.

Lowestoft police and Trading Standards officers have been busy in the town for another day of action on Operation Seawolf today, when the police's ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) Intercept Team spotted two teenage boys carrying out some pressure washing work on a driveway in Gorleston Road.

Officers approached to question them and, following checks, the teenagers were arrested.

While at the address a Ford Transit van arrived and after further enquiries the three occupants of the vehicle were also arrested. Five people - a 52-year-old man, a 42-year-old man, a 30-year-old man, a 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy - were all arrested on suspicion of possession/control of an article for use in fraud.

And after being taken into custody at Lowestoft police station for interview, all five have now been bailed to return to Lowestoft police station on November 2 pending a joint investigation by Suffolk Constabulary and Suffolk Trading Standards.

'Police are again reminding residents to be careful when dealing with doorstep callers and to always get several quotes from reputable firms before agreeing to have any work done,' a police spokesman said.