THIRTEEN people have been arrested following a police operation across Welwyn Hatfield yesterday (Wednesday). Cash totalling �8,000 and hundreds of pounds of electrical goods were seized during the raids. Welwyn Hatfield chief inspector Dave Newsome sai

THIRTEEN people have been arrested following a police operation across Welwyn Hatfield yesterday (Wednesday).

Cash totalling �8,000 and hundreds of pounds of electrical goods were seized during the raids.

Welwyn Hatfield chief inspector Dave Newsome said: "The raids are an important part of our activity to continue to keep crime down by targeting handlers of stolen goods.

"Handlers provide the opportunity to turn property into cash which can be used to feed drug habits and other types of criminal behaviour - which all has a direct negative impact on our communities."

He added: "There is no such thing as a victimless crime.

"That cheap TV may have belonged to someone's mother or grandmother. "Those computer games and console may have been taken from a young person who saved for weeks to afford them."

Of the 13 arrested, four have been given bail, two were cautioned and two were released without charge.

The other five were charged, they are:

*Hayley Gatier, 33, of Salisbury Gardens, WGC was charged with three counts of attempting to receive stolen property on March 19, April 2 and April 9, 2009.

*Rachel Newton, 40, of Hollybush Lane, WGC was charged with three counts of attempting to handle stolen goods on March 16, March 19 and April 2, 2009.

*Huseyin Ates, 44, of Unity Road, Enfield was charged with two counts of attempting to handle stolen goods on March 4 and April 18, 2009.

*Amir Hosaini, 19, of Maidensfield, WGC was charged with four counts of attempting to handle stolen goods on March 16, March 23, March 30 and April 6.

*Prav Shah, 52, of Bell Close, Knebworth was charged with one count of attempting to handle stolen goods on April 22, 2009.