Police have carried out a series of raids this morning as part of an investigation into a series of burglaries in which around £250,000 of property was stolen.

A total of six search warrants were executed at addresses in Southampton, Ringwood and Dorset, including Woodcote Road, Tatwin Crescent, Witts Hill and Vine Road, all in Southampton, Southampton Road, Ringwood · Fitzpain Road and West Parley, Ferndown .

Five men, aged 31, 29, 27, 26 and 22, were detained on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary.

The operation is being led by the Hampshire Major Investigation Team and is focused on a series of 30 burglaries committed in Hampshire, Sussex and Dorset, between May 1 and October 26, 2012.

In the raids, burglars targeted cigarettes and high value electrical goods, with the total value of the goods stolen estimated at around £250,000.

All those arrested are currently in custody at police stations in Hampshire where they will be interviewed by detectives throughout today.