Rural Crime Week 2026

Last week we teamed up with partner forces and agencies to carry out targeted strikes on those who mistakenly think our rural communities are an easy target.

Highlights included:

• A Ford Mondeo that was suspected to have been involved in burglaries in the Carlisle area and believed to be operating in the Crook area on three different number plates was found hidden in a garage by patrolling PCSOs Robson and Clark. Crook NPT and Response officers subsequently seized the vehicle and arrested two suspects as well as recovering £3k in cash. An investigation is ongoing.
• A horse box stolen in the Cumbria area was recovered in Sunniside within 24 hours and one man arrested on suspicion of theft. It turns out he was also wanted for heroin drugs offences and a subsequent search of his address uncovered further Class A drugs, a heroin press and suspected stolen power tools.
• Two trailers, one believed to have been stolen during a burglary in Selkirk and one confirmed stolen from Warrington 17 years ago, were also recovered and dealt with by officers from Barnard Castle NPT.
• A stolen caravan from the Avon and Somerset area was located in Streetlam, Barnard Castle after officers used the force drone to track it. The rightful owner has been notified and the caravan will be returned.

Teams across the force also took part Operation Checkpoint, which sees officers team up with our Rurali groups to stop suspicious vehicles and individuals, intercepting criminals and even some of our Rurali members, who were happy to be stopped.

Prevention work continued with the launch of our new SelectaDNA scheme at Wolsingham and Stanhope Agricultural Shows.

Other items on offer were safer homes kits, locks, alarms and stop me stickers, supported by the Durham Police and Crime Commissioner. Officers who attended the events all did so on their rest days to support the project.

This work and our commitment to our rural residents continues all-year-round.

Officers will also be attending Eggleston Agricultural Show on Saturday, September 19. Please come and say hello. We will be issuing SelectaDNA kits to farm residents across Teesdale, just bring proof of address or utility bill.