TWO people have been arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods following a raid in north Durham.

Police targeted a house in Lyne Close, Perkinsville, near Chester-le-Street, after receiving information that stolen goods were being sold from the address.

A 26-year-old man and his mother, aged 48, were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and taken into custody.

The raid was carried out as part of Operation Relentless and officers executed a magistrates’ search warrant.

They seized multiple gift sets of perfume, razor blades, a Gucci watch, several mobile phones, 53 unknown white tablets and also almost £3,000 in cash, along with lists of customers and orders for goods.

Detective Sergeant Mel Sutherland said: “We are starting the long run-up to Christmas now and police will come down hard on shoplifters and the handlers of stolen goods.

“If you are offered expensive perfume for sale at low prices that seems too good to be true, it is.

“Counterfeit perfumes are not regulated so you could be spraying anything onto your skin, you should ask yourself: ‘is it really worth taking the risk?’”