Eight teenagers have been arrested and 15 stolen motorbikes seized from properties across Doncaster in a newly launched operation.

The teenagers are all aged between 15 and 18, with a high amount of gathered intelligence to identify them as suspects in this criminality.

Officers from South Yorkshire Police executed several warrants to raid houses in the area and recover the stolen motorbikes.

Operation Stoke Alpha has been launched to combat a rising trend in motorbike thefts and associated antisocial behaviour.

Doncaster Neighbourhood Inspector Adrian Luscombe said: “The crimes being committed span the whole of Doncaster, so it’s been difficult to target the individuals involved from a policing perspective because the crimes are so widespread and sporadic.

“By introducing Operation Spoke Alpha, we’ve managed to consolidate a small team of officers who are dedicated to targeting these individuals and using the full range of powers at their disposal to relentlessly pursue them.”

South Yorkshire Police says further activities related to this operation will be carried out in due course and members of the public should continue to submit evidence and intelligence which can help lead to more arrests.

Insp Luscombe added: “Our message to the people involved in this criminality is that what you’re doing is wrong. Regardless of your age, we will use the powers we have to deal with you appropriately and regardless of what you might think, you are not untouchable.”