Police stumbled across a wanted burglar during overnight patrols to combat a spate of break-ins.

Over the last week, officers from Basildon’s community policing team have carried out multiple overt and plain-clothed operations in the Nevendon Road area of Wickford in a bid to drive down burglaries.

Known as Operation Novice, the patrols were set up after a sudden increase in burglaries, which all happened in the early hours of the morning.

Four officers split across two police cars had a fortunate surprise during one of their patrols when they found two teenagers walking along Scott Drive just after midnight on Wednesday, June 22.

Following a stop and search, they discovered one was wanted for burgling a Pitsea home and stealing two cars in April and arrested him.

PC Marek Jaworski, from the team, said the result shows the importance of patrols.

He said: “We are reacting to a trend that has been identified.

“There was a sudden spike of burglaries in that area overnight and we have carried out a high visibility operation, but there has also been plain-clothed deployment.

“We have been getting out and about into the areas where we know there’s problems and stopping people - you never know what you might find.

“Just after midnight on Wednesday, June 22, we saw two young lads walking towards us.

“We stopped them and identified one as being wanted for a burglary.

“They may well have been up to something and could have committed another burglary if we hadn’t been patrolling and found them. It is a positive result for the police, it shows how proactive patrols can catch suspected criminals.”

Police arrested a 16-year-old boy from Basildon, who cannot be named for legal reason, and took him to Basildon police station for questioning.

He was later charged with burgling a house in Wilsner, Pitsea, on April 22, in which two cars, wallets and purses were stolen, totalling a value of £45,000.

He was also charged with two counts of fraud by false representation after allegedly stealing bank cards and using them in cash machines to withdraw money.

The teenager was bailed to appear before Basildon Youth Court on Tuesday, July 26.

During patrols along Nevendon Road two days later nobody was found.