THE sharp eyes of a Melksham police officer may have brought an end to an organised crime ring.

PC Mark Wallace spotted a van police had been trying to trace in connection with an incident at Sainsbury's, in Chippenham, parked at the supermarket's Melksham store.

The police helicopter and dog handlers were called in and a search of the vehicle uncovered evidence of an organised crime ring which has been using stolen credit cards to buy goods which can then be re-sold.

Sainsbury's stores across the south have been targeted by thieves recently, and cigarettes and grocery items worth about £700 were bought from the two Wiltshire stores using stolen credit cards.

DC Alan Hardman of Wiltshire police said: "This is definitely organised crime. We are talking about something so widespread it could involve thousands of pounds.

"The evidence has led us to believe there are several teams working in the south west. It is very organised and we have had a lot of interest from other forces."

Sussex police have already been in touch with the Wiltshire force in connection with crimes in their area and other forces are also expected to connect incidents they are investigating.

Two men and a woman were arrested and have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.