Police have arrested eight men on suspicion of theft after they posted a video on social media showing off their allegedly stolen haul.

TikTok videos featuring North Shields residents showing off a haul of allegedly stolen bicycles and mopeds led officers straight the front doors of the suspects.

After seeing the videos officers arrested eight men on suspicion of theft in May and recovered a haul of suspected stolen items.

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Over the summer, officers have arrested 10 people in connection with bicycle and moped thefts, referred three people to the Youth Justice System, searched six houses and recovered seven bicycles and four mopeds.

Neighbourhood Inspector Jen Scott who leads Operation Piaggio, named after the popular scooter, said: “Since the start of the summer our dedicated team have really clamped down on thefts.

“We’ve boosted patrols in problem areas, with many patrols being conducted by plain clothed officers.

“As well as securing a number of arrests and reuniting many people with believed stolen goods, we’ve seen a noticeable decrease in reports of thefts of this nature and we truly believe that’s thanks to this operation.

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“The hard work doesn’t stop here though and we have big plans for Piaggio as we enter the autumn months.”

Inspector Scott has also shared some top tips to help protect property including fitting a tracker device, keep mopeds in secure garages wherever possible or locking them behind gates.

Anyone with any concerns, or those wanting to report information or suspicious activity, should call 101 or visit their local police force’s website to find out how to report intelligence to officers.

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