Here are five of the biggest crime stories that have featured in the SNJ, Gazette Series or Wilts Glos Standard over the past few days.

An inquiry is underway into reports that two men attempted to kidnap a boy on his way to school in Stroud.

The Archway pupil was punched in the face before being able to get away, according to his mother.

FULL STORY: Schoolboy assaulted during attempted kidnap in Stroud

A Tetbury quad biker who claimed Covid-19 was fake when challenged by police for breaching lockdown rules has been named.

Ryan Grist, 35 and of Sherwood Road, was summonsed to court after failing to pay a £35 fine.

He was found guilty of leaving the place where you are living without reasonable excuse during a Coronavirus emergency period and ordered to pay £233 as well as a surcharge of £34 and court costs of £85.

FULL STORY: Tetbury quad biker claimed Covid-19 was fake

An elderly Wotton-under-Edge man was burgled by the rogue traders he had paid £5,000 to repair a roof tile.

Police are now appealing for help to find the culprits.

FULL STORY: Wotton pensioner conned by bogus callers

Police are asking for witnesses to come forward, after a distraction burglary in South Gloucestershire.

A man knocked on the victim’s door in Kingswood and said he was there to check the drains at the rear of the property.

The man led the victim out to inspect the drains, telling him to leave the doors open.

After the man left, the victim returned to the property and saw the house had been ransacked and a quantity of cash had been taken.

FULL STORY: Witnesses sought after distraction burglary in South Gloucestershire

Police discovered barrels of stolen oil in the back of a van stopped on a Gloucestershire road.

Officers stopped and searched the large blue van on the A429 as its occupants were casing another property.

FULL STORY: Police discover barrels of stolen oil in back of van on A429