A man has been charged with seven counts of burglary after a series of break-ins in Selly Oak, a student area of Birmingham. Stephen Corcoran, 34, from Birmingham, was due before Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Monday, 9 November.

West Midlands Police said its Neighbourhood Crime Team had been investigating several reported burglaries around Dawlish Road and Hubert Road, streets popular with students. Officers traced stolen property to an address on Harborne Lane, where searches were carried out on Sunday, 8 November.

Stolen laptops recovered

The searches, carried out with support from the force's proactive crime team, Operation Skybridge, covered a property, a vehicle and a neighbouring garden. Police recovered laptops and a tablet, and seized clothing for forensic examination.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: "We've recovered stolen items after several reported burglaries in Selly Oak, with a suspect now due in court thanks to our teams' hard work."

Operation Skybridge patrols continue

Operation Skybridge continues to operate in the area, using a combination of high-visibility and plain-clothed patrols to prevent further offences. West Midlands Police said tackling burglary and theft in Selly Oak and across Birmingham is a priority for the force.

Selly Oak is home to large numbers of students, and police have repeatedly warned residents in the area to keep doors and windows secure. The investigation into the burglaries remains ongoing, and officers have asked anyone with information to contact them.

Corcoran is charged with seven counts of burglary. He has not yet entered a plea, and the case will now proceed through the courts.

Student area targeted

Selly Oak sits close to the University of Birmingham and is home to large numbers of students, many living in shared houses along streets such as Dawlish Road and Hubert Road. Burglars often target student areas because homes can be left empty during lectures and holidays, and laptops and other electronics are easy to sell on.

Operation Skybridge, the force's proactive crime team in the area, has been running patrols in Selly Oak for some time. In October it arrested a man over a series of bike thefts in the area after a tracking device on a stolen bike led officers to him. Police have urged students and other residents to keep doors and windows locked, to mark valuables, and to report anything suspicious.

Anyone with information about the Selly Oak burglaries can contact West Midlands Police on 101, quoting the relevant reference, or pass information anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers.