EXCLUSIVE
A MAN of 74 was quizzed by police following a raid in which thousands of pounds worth of counterfeit DVDs and video games were seized.
Police and trading standards officers swooped on the flat in Stopford Court, Clayton-le-Moors, in a carefully-planned operation on Wednesday afternoon to uncover the haul.
Half a dozen officers spent hours searching the premises before also removing computer equipment and lists of names thought to be people looking to buy the goods.
It is believed thousands of discs, enough to fill several large storage units, were removed from the flat.
The white-haired pensioner, who opened the door to officers, was arrested and questioned at Great Harwood Police Station before being released on bail until 15 June in the early hours of yesterday morning.
PC Rob Flannagan, community beat manager for Clayton-le-Moors, said: "This is the first haul of this scale I have come across.
"We believe the goods are worth thousands of pounds and the computer hardware alone is worth a similar amount.
"This has been a long-term operation planned with the help of members of the public.
"We have been aware of this for a few months but the information we had needed to be verified. Our police support unit carried out a search of the flat and they did a very thorough job.
"We would like to thank members of the community for their help. This is another example of our close work with the public and with trading standards."
PC Flannagan added that the computers seized by police would be examined by trading standards officials as part of further investigations into the case.
He said that he would be visiting Stopford Court today (Fri) to talk to and reassure residents.
