POLICE believe the theft of a Mini car from a garage forecourt near Darlington could be linked to similar offences.

The Mini 850 Super Deluxe was stolen from the forecourt of Simon J Robinson Ltd, Ketton Garage, Durham Road, Coatham Mundeville, between 6pm and midnight on Saturday, March 16.

Police believe the theft could be linked to two further reports – the theft of a metallic blue Mini Cooper Sport from Marlborough Drive, Darlington, between 11.50pm, March 19, and 7am, on March 20, and the attempted theft of a Mini Sprite MV from an address in Chester-le-Street between 10pm on March 18 and 7am the following day.

Anyone with information about any of these incidents is asked to call the non-emergency number, 101, and ask for the response team at Darlington.