FIVE teenage boys have been arrested and charged after a crime spree through East Lothian and elsewhere early yesterday morning (Wednesday).

Three business premises were targeted in East Lothian and the Borders between 1.50am and 2.20am.

Stolen cars were used to get to each area, which were later traced in Edinburgh.

Four boys, aged 16, 16, 17 and 18, will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Thursday), and a 15-year-old boy has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal.

The arrests were part of a combined resources effort from uniformed and plain clothed police officers in the Lothians and Borders and Edinburgh divisions.

The first incident happened on Wednesday at about 1.50am when entry was forced to a post office in Stow.

A number of cigarettes were stolen and three previously stolen cars - a VW Golf, Fiat 500 and BMW X5 - were spotted outside the store at the time.

The second incident happened at about 2.10am when thieves managed to gain entry to a sandwich store in Longniddry, but nothing was stolen.

The third incident happened at about 2.20am at a petrol station in Tranent.

A two-figure sum of cash was stolen, along with a quantity of alcohol.

Police in Dalkeith later recovered the stolen Fiat 500, BMW X5, Vauxhall Astra and an Audi Q7.

Detective Inspector Steven Bertram, of Dalkeith Police Station, said: "Vehicle crime and housebreakings have a huge effect on victims and businesses, and this result shows our desire to tackle these crimes.

"We know this is important to our communities and we'll continue to work together to track those responsible.

"This is a good result for our officers across the three divisions."