One of the most wanted people in Brighton and Hove is to appear in court charged with breaking into a home and threatening the resident with a knife.

The 17-year-old boy was arrested on Sunday 13 April on suspicion of having carried out a series of burglaries and attempted burglaries across the city.

Among the offences he is accused of are breaking into a home in Shelldale Road, Portslade, and threatening a teenage boy who lived there before stealing a games console and other electrical items on 8 April.

The teenager was charged with aggravated burglary for that offence as well as burglary in Coleman Avenue, Hove, and Station Road, Portslade, attempted burglaries in Coleman Avenue and Langdale Gardens in Hove and handling stolen goods.

He was released on bail to appear at Brighton Youth Court on 3 July.

Wesley Holmes, 18, of Ingram Crescent East, Hove, was also charged with aggravated burglary for the offence in Shelldale Road and with burglaries in Coleman Avenue and attempted burglaries in Langdale Gardens and Coleman Avenue.

The charges were just some of the recent successes for officers involved in Operation Magpie, the force's crackdown on burglars.

Hastings brothers Grant (shown left in the picture) and Kesley Searle (shown right in the picture) are beginning lengthy sentences after they were convicted of committing burglaries in the town.

When Grant Searle, 22, was arrested by officers investigating a report of men behaving suspiciously in Hastings, a key to a Mitsubishi Colt was found hidden in his underwear.

The key was to a car that had been stolen in a burglary in the town several hours earlier.

His brother Kesley, 20, was part of a gang of burglars who broke into a home in Delaware Drive, St Leonards, in March last year and stole the keys to a Nissan Qashqai and Vauxhall Astra before driving the cars away.

He was also one of a group of masked men who were disturbed by the resident of a house in Mill Lane, St Leonards, in November last year as they burgled the property. The gang escaped with a TV and other electrical items but first threw a knife at the victim when he saw them which fortunately missed him.

Grant Searle was convicted of burglaries at four homes and one business in Hastings, two assaults on police officers, criminal damage, possession of class B drugs and fraud. He was jailed for four and a half years.

Kesley Searle was convicted of burglaries at two homes in Hastings, handling stolen goods and theft from a vehicle. He also admitted five other thefts and was jailed for three and a half years.

Detective Inspector Ian Williams said: "The Searles were formerly part of the Warrior Square Crew in Hastings and have been prolific criminals in the town for many years.

"They had also become prolific burglars so having them off the streets is good for everyone who lives in the town and another great success for Operation Magpie."

Among other successes have been: - the charging of a 15-year-old boy with breaking into a home in Old Church Road, St Leonards, and stealing Christmas presents on 13 December last year. He has also been charged with a burglary in Barnfield Close, Hastings, on April 11. He was remanded in custody.

- the charging of Stephen Carr, 27, of Brands Close, South Heighton, with two burglaries in Eastbourne Road, Seaford, on 13 and 14 April. He was released on bail to appear at Hastings Magistrates' Court on 20 May.

- the charging of Mark Leadbetter, 52, of The Spinney, Pulborough, with a burglary in St Leonards Road, Horsham, on 9 April. He was released on bail to appear at Lewes Crown Court on 22 May.

- the charging of Ashley Symes, 48, of Heath Close, Broadbridge Heath, with breaking into a home in Tower Road, Faygate, on 25 January. He is due to appear at lewes Crown Court on a date to be set.

- the charging of Rene Coutts, 39, of Summerfield Road, West Wittering, with trying to break into a home in Roman Landing in the village on 18 March. He was released on bail to appear at Worthing Magistrates' Court on 28 April.

- the arrest of two men aged 25 from South Chailey and a 22-year-old from Littlehampton with a burglary in The Glen, Worthing, on 3 February. Both have been released on bail until 17 June while officers carry out further inquiries.

If you have any information about burglaries, please call 101 or email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk.

If you see or hear a burglary taking place call 999 immediately.