TWO youths have been arrested after a spate of overnight thefts in Wellington of motorbikes and car number plates.

Wellington neighbourhood policing Sgt Jon O’Connor said his officers suspected that youngsters from Taunton had been travelling to the town to commit the offences.

Sgt O’Connor said: “Some of the motorbikes and other outstanding property has been recovered and two juvenile suspects have been arrested and charged with several offences.

“Further offences forming part of the wider series remain under investigation with ongoing inquiries.”

Both youths, who are aged under 18 years, were kept in custody until they appeared in court, where magistrates released the pair on bail with conditions not to associate with each other and subject to overnight curfews pending their next court date.

Sgt O’Connor said in the past month in Wellington there had also been three drug offences and one count of possession of a weapon.

He said: “These are crimes that directly reflect proactive police action, as they are only detected and recorded when items are found within a person’s possession following a search or other encounter with officers.

“As much as it may seem alarming to have a weapons crime recorded, it demonstrates how rare these offences are in Wellington.

“When we receive information regarding potential possession of a knife we are quick to respond robustly to minimise the threat and risk posed to the wider community.”

Sgt O’Connor said following recent concern about ‘street drinking’, police had continued to conduct early morning sweeps of the town centre to move individuals on and challenge their presence before they had an opportunity to behave anti-socially.’

He said the removal of benches in the Fore Street entrance to North Street car park had provided respite for nearby businesses but had displaced individuals who were now frequenting other locations.