POLICE have been spreading some ‘festive fear’ as they launch a crackdown on rural crime with the warning – ‘We’ll lock you up for Christmas’.

Operation Checkpoint is a cross-border initiative targeting offenders who are known to break into properties or steal vehicles, diesel or vehicle parts.

More than 200 hundred officers from forces, including Durham, Cleveland, Northumbria, North Yorkshire and Cumbria, were patrolling rural areas during a specialist overnight operation.

Durham Constabulary have also been hand delivering ‘Christmas’ cards with a sharp reminder to stop offending or face time behind bars.

Four people were arrested overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning as part of the crackdown.

Chief Inspector Sue Robinson, of Durham Constabulary, said: “This type of crime has a significant effect on victims as they feel even more vulnerable by virtue of the rural location where they live.

“While the humour in the card is tongue in cheek, the message in it is clear – if you insist on making other people’s Christmas miserable we will take action against you.”

Checkpoints were used to target people suspected of being linked to criminality, whilst officers and volunteers with expert knowledge of their local area were deployed to search of suspects.

The operation saw more than 100 vehicles stopped for checks, resulting in a number of vehicle seizures, fixed penalty notices and arrests.

Cleveland Police’s rural crime reduction co-ordinator Paul Payne said: “We have made great strides in the past year through both these projects, and hope to move on to bigger things in 2017 with all your support. A large number of farms were also visited during the operation to let those we serve know that we are out there on their behalf.”

The action saw a 23-year-old man, from the West Auckland area, arrested at his home and subsequently charged with the thefts of several Ford Transit vans. Jamie Lee Armstrong-Cliff of Front Street, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates court to face four charges of stealing Ford transit vans between September and October.

He was remanded in custody until January 16 when he’ll appear at Durham Crown Court.

Two brothers, aged 27 and 21 from the Northumbria Police area were arrested in Staindrop after their Vauxhall Vectra was spotted by a Farmwatch volunteer.

Another man in his 40’s from the Darlington area was arrested in Heighington Lane on suspicion of going equipped for theft.