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

Police and officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit and the National Crime Agency, known as ‘Britain’s FBI’, raided a property in Danebrook Court, Langford Lane on Wednesday.

The five men, aged 40, 39, 38, 36 and 34, are from Wheatley, Witney, Bampton 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, to return to Banbury police station.

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The raid, part of Operation Jerome, was one of 25 operations across the country, which saw a total of 56 arrests.

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:

Some of the items taken away after the raid in Kidlington.

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.”

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.

“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.”