FIVE men have been arrested on suspicion of cyber crimes in Kidlington, police said.

Police and officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit and the National Crime Agency raided property in Danebrook Court, Langford Lane on Wednesday.

The five men, aged 40, 39, 38, 36 and 34, were from Wheatley, Bampton, Witney and Didcot.

They were all arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to steal from another; conspiracy to use or control criminal property; conspiracy with others to commit computer misuse offence; and unauthorised access with intent to commit further offences.

Three men were bailed  until May 6 and two until May 7. All five were bailed to Banbury police station.

Photos released by the force show police staff handling some of the electronic equipment seized in the raid.

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Detective constable Mark Personius, leading the investigation, said: "These arrests come as a result of an extensive and thorough investigation."

He said the team worked to make it "very difficult for cyber criminals to operate within Thames Valley".

Oxford Mail:

Detective chief superintendent Richard List said: "We are seeing the criminal use of the internet and technology in almost every aspect of serious and organised crime.

"Working together gives us the best chance of tacking the complex, and often global, threat from cyber crime as we seek to protect local people.

"Wednesday’s warrant and arrests are a great example of this joint working of which you will be seeing much more in the future."

Oxford Mail:

Andy Archibald, deputy director of the National Crime Agency's national cyber crime unit, said: “This operation emphasises that at the heart of fighting cybercrime are the essential partnerships with our police colleagues and industry in making the UK a safer place to enjoy.

“Criminals need to realise that committing crime online will not make them anonymous to law enforcement.

"We are continuously working to track down and apprehend those seeking to utilise computers for criminal ends, and to disrupt the technical networks and infrastructures supporting international cyber crime."

Oxford Mail: