Crash for Cash - Reading gang arrested in raids

Police have arrested four men after raiding properties across Reading as part of an investigation into "crash for cash" insurance scams.

Officers searched buildings in Cardiff Road, Wantage Road, Cholmeley Road, Elm Park Road, and Elm Lodge Avenue.

The men, aged 27, 30, 38 and 39, and all from Reading, were arrested on suspicion of fraud.

"Crash for cash" is thought to involve people staging collisions in order to make claims against motorists.

Thames Valley Police (TVP) is investigating crashes between March and September 2013 in the South and Vale, Abingdon, and Oxford areas, in what is being called Operation Shunt.

Police said a "substantial amount of cash was seized" and that another man, 27, has detained by immigration enforcement officers.

Det Insp Louise Roddy said: "The types of offences we have been investigating present a risk to the public so this operation sends out a clear message that TVP takes such offences seriously and will deal with any offenders robustly."

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