DETECTIVES investigating ‘Asian gold’ burglaries have charged three Bradford men.

Officers have been investigating a series of similar offences where homes appear to have been specifically targeted for high value gold jewellery.

These include a burglary at Sunny Bank Lane, Thornbury, on Thursday last week and a further offence later the same day at Chatsworth Road, Pudsey.

Witnesses to the second incident contacted the police and three men were arrested following a pursuit by officers with support from the police helicopter and dog unit.

Anthony Hardisty, 25, of Mark Close, Bradford, Michael Darling, 26, of Moorlands Avenue, Bradford, and Martin Stokes, 23, of Kettlewell Drive, Bradford, have each been charged with two counts of burglary in relation to the incidents.

They appeared at Leeds Magistrates Court last Friday and were remanded on custody to appear at Leeds Crown Court on August 6.

Chief Inspector Richard Padwell, who heads Leeds District Crime Team, said: “We are continuing to take a proactive approach to targeting offenders involved in organised burglaries across Leeds and these latest arrests and charges are a measure of the progress we are continuing to make.

“We hope our communities, particularly those who have been targeted for high-value Asian jewellery, can take suitable reassurance from the work we are doing to keep them and their homes safe.

“The vigilance of members of the public is a vital part of our ongoing work and we would urge people to continue to report anything suspicious so we can take action.”