POLICE using battering rams smashed their way into homes in the hunt for a town's "dirty dozen" most prolific criminals.

The co-ordinated raids on addresses in central Middlesbrough and South Bank targeted what Cleveland Police describe as prominent "big players'' in car break-ins, muggings and house burglaries.

The raids marked the latest phase of Operation Penrith, for which intelligence and surveillance work started last month.

Up to yesterday, Operation Penrith had yielded £60,000 of stolen equipment, £20,000 of car stereos, SIM cards from mobile phones, and other property and drugs, which were recovered on the first day of a series of raids.

Six people were also arrested - including a man who has been charged with 31 offences relating to the handling of stolen goods.

Yesterday's raids targeted those thought to have been supplying the receiver and others with stolen goods.

It was named Pursuit Day by the officer in charge, Detective Inspector Derek Carter, who told his 20-member team and their back-up uniformed units, that their job would not be over until every one of the dozen suspects they were assigned to target had been arrested.

Briefing officers before the raids, Det Insp Carter said: "These are the nub and cause of the trouble. These are the ones who have been robbing pensioners, burgling pensioners' homes and carrying out street robberies on kids - taking their mobile phones.

"Today is Pursuit Day. We do not finish until we get all our suspects in custody. Do not come back until they are all in custody. There is a lot riding on this."

He said various tactics including covert work had gone into putting the operation together. He said: "The criminals should realise we can be as sneaky as they are."

Acting Detective Sergeant Mark Dimelow, his deputy on the operation, said the raids should send a warning to the criminal fraternity.

"This will have a positive impact on crime. We are trying to reduce it, by targeting known criminals. Our message to them is don't bother, it's not worth the effort. We will be coming for you.''

Police hope taking criminals off the streets will also reduce the fear of crime in the community.