A security guard narrowly escaped being deliberately run over by a van full of suspected shoplifters who are wanted for a string of offences in the North East.
The drama unfolded after four men entered Morrisons in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street and stole a quantity of alcohol at around 5pm on May 30.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "When approached, those involved are believed to have threatened to stab security guards and staff with a broken bottle, before getting into a white van which was then reportedly driven at another security guard, who thankfully was able to get out of the way."
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Later that night at around 9pm, it was then reported four people had entered Tesco in Rowlands Gill and stolen a quantity of meat and alcohol.
When approached by security guards, the group have then threated staff and one of the offenders is believed to have thrown a bottle at them.
The incidents were reported to police and while inquiries were ongoing, a third incident believed to be linked, was reported the following day.
At around 3am on May 31, it was reported a group approached Cool Hands E-Cig store in Houghton and used hammers and crowbars to break through the shutter and windows, stealing a quantity of items, before leaving the scene in a white van.
At this point, police are treating all three reports as linked and are now appealing to the public for information.
A range of enquiries have already been carried out by detectives from Northumbria Police and today (Monday) officers have issued the images of two women and a man who were in the area at the time and could have information which assists.
Images one and two relate to the incident at Morrisons and image three relates to the incident in Tesco.
Those pictured, or anyone who knows them, or anyone who has information is asked to get in touch with police as soon as possible using the ‘Tell us Something’ page on our website, quoting crime reference 063394T/22.
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