SUTTON COLDFIELD – A major police initiative in Sutton Coldfield has slashed rates of serious crime by nearly half in its first fortnight, West Midlands Police have reported.

Operation Skybridge, a specialised deployment targeting serious and acquisitive crime (SAC), was launched in the area over two weeks ago. New data reveals a dramatic 46% reduction in overall SAC offences, including robbery, burglary, and vehicle crime, since the operation began.

Key Crime Reduction Statistics in Sutton Coldfield:

• Burglary: Down 33%
• Robbery: Down 42%
• Theft from motor vehicle: Down 46%
• Theft of motor vehicle: Down 60%

The operation’s impact follows multiple arrests for serious offences, including robbery, burglary, and drug supply. Police activity has been high, with officers conducting numerous stop-and-searches, proactive traffic stops, and generating dozens of intelligence reports to target offenders.

“While this is a promising start, we understand that behind every offence, there are victims,” stated the Operation Skybridge team. “We will continue to work alongside your local neighbourhood team to seek out those causing harm to the Sutton Coldfield community.”

Winter Security Warning for Birmingham Residents

With a week of sub-zero temperatures forecast, police issued urgent crime prevention advice to deter opportunistic thieves:

• Never leave your vehicle running unattended while defrosting. Thieves target these moments and can steal a car in seconds.
• Remove all valuables from your vehicle.
• Ensure all windows and doors to your home are securely locked.
• Consider upgrading to anti-snap locks on exterior doors to prevent a common method of forced entry.

How to Report Crime in the West Midlands

Anyone with information about robbery, burglary, vehicle crime, or drug crime in Sutton Coldfield or Birmingham is urged to contact:

• Crimestoppers anonymously.
• West Midlands Police via their official website webchat function.
• Email the Operation Skybridge team directly at Opskybridge@westmidlands.police.uk (Note: This email is for intelligence and correspondence, not for reporting live crimes).

In an emergency, always call 999.

Operation Skybridge continues its deployment in support of local policing teams across the West Midlands.