A WARNING is being issued to criminals as police employ new covert tactics in a crackdown which is already being hailed a success.

Police are predicting that up to 200 high-volume thieves, some responsible for between 50 and 60 crimes each, will be behind bars by Christmas.

Launched at the weekend, Operation Trident has so far smashed drug rings and their supply routes, solved 500 offences and seized firearms.

A hand-picked team of 40 Cleveland Police officers has so far recovered thousands of pounds worth of drugs and guns, 100 stolen mountain bikes, electrical items and garden equipment.

Chief Superintendent John Kelly, the man behind the crackdown, said the scheme's success was a combination of traditional and innovative methods, making it a "unique'' operation and a blueprint for others to follow.

Trident, which took a year to plan and research, and is being masterminded from a secret location, started at the weekend, with 30 people being arrested.

Chief Supt Kelly said: "A number of suspected drug dealers have already been arrested and one major supply route into the area has been taken out.

"Operation Trident has a simple message for criminals in Langbaurgh: 'We know who you are. We have evidence against you and we are coming to arrest you. There will be no hiding place'.''

Trident's key aims are to identify criminals, carry out arrests and deal a body blow to the district's crime activities.

Chief Supt Kelly said the crackdown would take major players in crime in east-Cleveland off the streets, with more than 100 villains being targeted by police.

He said: "Burglary, thefts from cars and drug dealing are crimes that affect every community and the quality of life people have. The public quite rightly wants us to deal with such offending.''

Raids will be a daily occurrence over the next few weeks, the police chief said.

He added: "All this will have a knock-on effect.

"We believe it will reduce crime and that could allow us to increase resources to tackle other areas, such as anti-social behaviour."