Five men arrested after high-value gold jewellery and cash stolen in Glasgow and East Renfrewshire break-ins

Five men have been arrested and charged following a number of housebreakings and high-value thefts.

Police Scotland’s ‘Operation Virion’ was launched in October 2021 in response to a number of high-value jewellery and cash thefts from properties across Scotland.

Between January 3 and January 14 police received 17 reports of housebreaking in Glasgow and Newton Mearns.

Following investigations on Tuesday, January 17, officers executed a search warrant at a property in West Kilbride.

Five men aged 28, 27, 26, 23 and 22 were arrested and charged in connection with the incidents.

They are due to appear before Glasgow Sheriff Court on Thursday.

Detective inspector Gary Cassidy, from the Community Investigation Unit in Govan, said: “Whenever someone’s home is broken into, the impact on the householder, their families and the local community is significant.

“High value thefts by housebreaking targeting of domestic properties for family valuables such as jewellery and cash is not a new phenomenon. Those who commit such crimes are not bound by geographical boundaries and as such Operation Virion was set up as a co-ordinated national approach to address these types of incidents.

“The dedicated team of officers deployed to Operation Virion help ensure that Police Scotland is in a position to respond effectively to investigate any incidents which do occur anywhere in the country to bring those responsible to justice as well as working with partner agencies to prevent and minimise the risk to people in our communities.

“We are determined to disrupt the activity of individuals and groups involved in these types of incidents and will do everything in our power to bring those involved to justice.

“Those with information can contact Police Scotland via 101 or alternatively, make an anonymous report to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”