Three arrested after Basildon ram raid spree

Three people have been arrested by police investigating a series of burglaries involving a vehicle being driven into shop fronts.

Essex Police said it was linking a "spate of incidents" that had taken place across Basildon between 16 and 24 September.

Businesses in Ballards Walk, Wrexham Road, Austen Road and Britannia Court, including takeaway restaurants and shops were affected, the force added.

Three men aged 30, 35 and 36 - all from Basildon - were being held in custody for questioning on suspicion of burglary and a vehicle has been seized.

A shop in Town Square, a premises in Gardiners Way, and a business unit in Rapton Court were also targeted, police said.

Det Sgt Sandy Kelleher, of Basildon CID, said: "We would always take any offending impacting upon our businesses very seriously, but these reports were of a particularly concerning nature.

"Our officers will remain in contact with the businesses impacted by these incidents, which we are treating as linked at this stage.

"We have worked hard, across a number of teams, to reach the point of making three important arrests.

"This work will continue to ensure we prevent a repeat of such offending and to ensure anyone involved is brought to justice."

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.