AROUND ten Hayle families are set to be reunited with their belongings after a successful police operation just days before Christmas.
Following a recent spate of thefts from cars and sheds, local officers were asked to come in on days off or rest days to solve the crimes.
Four plain-clothes' officers were out on the streets in the pouring rain on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
Backed up by a team of uniformed officers, it was not until the second night that the force had a breakthrough, recovering a large amount of stolen goods.
Rachel Roach, of Hayle, was one of those affected by the series of thefts.
On December 10, her work laptop and sat-nav were taken from her black Toyota.
"My husband went out to the car and the laptop was in a box.
"I was upset because it was a work laptop so I was worried that I was going to have to give up my pay for it; I was just upset more than anything, I thought Hayle was quite safe."
Rachel said the police officer who had come round to take a statement the next day had been very helpful and on Thursday police rang to say they had recovered Rachel's missing electronic gear.
She said: "The police have been absolutely fantastic, they have been really on the ball."
Sergeant Mike Friday, who was involved in the undercover operation, said: "Officers were asked to give up their own time to do it because obviously it was a problem and it was coming up to Christmas.
"We were working through the night involving patrols in plain vehicles and officers in plain clothes in torrential rain. Everyone was drenched.
"It just shows you what local officers are prepared to do to stop crime in their area."
A 19-year-old Hayle man has since been charged with three counts of handling stolen goods and one charge of possession of cannabis. He has been released on bail until January. A second man, aged 21, also from Hayle, was charged with handling stolen goods and burglary. He was remanded in custody until an interim hearing due to take place today.