FIVE men and two women were stopped in their vehicles and arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary on Friday night.

Three vehicles containing the suspects were pro-actively stopped by police on the M6 at around 9pm on Friday, January 28.

A Nissan Juke was stopped near Fulwood, in Lancashire, with two 19-year-old men, a 29-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman all from St Helens arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary.

Officers on Lancashire Police's Tac-Op patrols then spotted a Renault Clio and a Vauxhall Astra that are allegedly connected to the conspiracy on the same stretch of motorway.

The vehicles were subsequently stung on Leyland Way, Leyland, where a number of the vehicles' occupants attempted to run off.

However, using specialist resources including a police helicopter, two more 19-year-old men, and a 27 and a 42-year-old woman, also from St Helens, were similarly arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary.

All three vehicles have been seized and enquiries are continuing, while the seven suspects remain in police custody at this time.

Lancashire Police Chief Inspector Patrick Worden said: "This is a fitting way to round off our second Op Vanquish week of action where we have been targeting wanted acquisitive criminals and those we suspect of carrying out burglaries and vehicle crime.

"I know the huge impact burglary and other acquisitive crimes can have on our communities and we will do everything we can to target those involved. Operation Vanquish is all about dealing with the crimes that matter most to people and making our streets and communities across Lancashire safer."