DETECTIVES investigating a series of cash machine thefts across the county have arrested four men.

The men were held after police served a number of search warrants at addresses in west Kent and also the West Mercia Police area - which covers Hereford, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.

They were each arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to burgle premises containing cash point machines.

They have been taken into custody and are currently being questioned at a police station in the Thames Valley area.

During the raids a number of documents, computers and mobile phones were also seized for examination.

Kent Police’s head of CID, Det Ch Supt Kevin Turner, said: "This is a significant result following a lengthy enquiry conducted by a dedicated team of officers investigating cash machine thefts.

"Our detectives have linked with colleagues from Thames Valley Police and West Mercia to make these arrests.

"We have previously made 34 arrests for related offences and 14 men have been charged with various offences, including money laundering, possessing firearms, false accounting and conspiracy to rob or burgle. We have seized more than one million pounds in drugs, cash and assets. One man was also recently charged in connection with a cash machine theft at Cliffe.

"These latest arrests show that Kent is committed to tackling and cracking serious crime in the county."

Police have also carried out high profile patrol activity and checks around the county over the past 12 days, at various locations. They were organised to disrupt, prevent and detect criminals involved in the theft of cash machines.