Police have arrested five people on suspicion of burglary following a break-in at the home of a pensioner in Northampton - and officers will now be investigating whether it is linked to a spate which has taken place across the town in recent weeks.
The five people, both male and female, were held after a major police operation in the Far Cotton area at about 6pm.
Two men, aged 21 and 31, and three women, aged 27, 30 and 59, are currently in custody at Weston Favell police station.
A break-in was reported at the home of an elderly resident in Queen Eleanor Road. The victim, aged 81, was not believed to have been hurt in the burglary.
The five, who are understood to live locally, were taken into police custody and interviewed by detectives.
The arrests come after a total of 10 distraction burglaries targeting pensioners in the town in the past few weeks. Some of the victims have been subjected to terrifying violent attacks.
A police spokesman said: “We need to sit down and find out if this is linked to the other attacks. At the minute they have just been arrested on the one burglary but obviously we are going to have a look and see if it is linked to the others.
“It’s certainly a very positive result for us, it’s been a good night’s work.”