Video: Homes raided and 11 arrested over inquiry into £2.5m luxury car thefts

More than 120 police officers from across the region carried out raids across Doncaster in a co-ordinated assault on organised crime gangs.

More homes are expected to be targeted today as detectives try to smash criminal networks thought to be behind dozens of burglaries across the north of England.

Codenamed Operation Artist, the investigation is focused on "two-in-one" burglaries, where criminals break into homes to steal car keys and then drive off with their victims' vehicles. Police have recovered more than 100 cars with a total value of 600,000 since it began 18 months ago.

Divisional commander for Doncaster Ch Supt Bob Sanderson said these were "just the tip of the iceberg". "We know that 2.5m worth of executive motors have been either sold or put up for sale by a small number of people," he added.

"We've recovered drugs worth 200,000, we've recovered stolen plant and stolen clothing.

"These criminals aren't only interested in cars and drugs – those are just commodities for them – and they will get involved in anything that will make them a fast buck."

Mr Sanderson said the gangs would spend weeks eyeing up potential targets before carrying out the burglaries. Audis, BMWs, Land Rovers and Range Rovers were the most common targets

Eleven suspects had been arrested by 9am yesterday. The arrests mark the first major success for Yorkshire's regional crime unit, which brings together undercover detectives from the region's four police forces to carry out lengthy and complex surveillance operations.