Armed police seized laptops and other electrical equipment, including an original Sony Walkman, during a raid on a house in Calne.

The raid follows a series of burglaries and thefts from vehicles in the town over recent weeks and police are hopeful they have now cracked the group responsible.

At 3.30pm on Monday officers visited the house in Mallard Close to arrest a man after he didn’t attend court while on bail.

When they arrived they found a rucksack full of laptops and other electrical equipment worth over £1,000 at the rear of the property. But the man refused to give himself up and posted a note through the window threatening to harm himself if police didn’t leave the area.

Extra officers were called, including two armed policemen from Devizes, and the door to the property was smashed in.

In an upstairs flat police found numerous TVs, VCRs and the Sony Walkman. Sergeant Phil Conner said: “It was an original Walkman, a real collectors’ item and worth an awful lot of money.

“We believe the equipment is being sold on at low prices to support drug addiction.

“Handbags, cash and a bank card have also been taken.”

Sgt Conner warned people not to buy anything they suspect to be stolen as they could be prosecuted for handling stolen goods.

The man was arrested and questioned by the Priority Crime Team in Melksham and further arrests are expected soon.

Sgt Conner said: “We strongly believe he is a member of a group and we are now targeting his associates.

“We are serious about tackling crime in Calne and there will be a robust response.”

Most of the property was stolen from unsecured homes and cars and Sgt Conner urged people to ensure valuables are kept safe.

He asked people to get in touch if they had any previously unreported thefts of TVs or VCRs.

Anyone with information can call police on 0845 408 7000.