One of the North East's most wanted criminals has been arrested after officers chased him down while he was trying to escape in a suspected stolen car with false plates.
Shortly after 7.30pm on Tuesday (September 20), specialist officers were alerted to a vehicle of interest that was travelling in the Shiremoor area of North Tyneside.
The sighting followed weeks of intense investigation with officers believing a long-term wanted suspect had been using a car on cloned plates in the hope of evading arrest.
Read more: Hartlepool's Jennie Berry posts video of shocking Albastar flight
Feeling like a chase might be on the cards, officers from the Force’s Operations Department were deployed to the area with the support of the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter overhead, according to Northumbria Police.
After tracking a white Skoda towards Heaton, the occupants of the vehicles were spooked and tried to flee on foot – but a 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle a short time later.
He remains in police custody at this time.
The suspect was also wanted in connection with a range of offences including dangerous driving, failing to stop and no insurance use.
A second male – aged 16 – was also detained nearby and will be interviewed by officers.
Following the high-profile arrest, Chief Inspector Mick Hall of Northumbria Police, has hailed his officers for their speedy thinking, while also warning other criminals of the consequences.
He said: “Last night’s arrest of one of our top wanted suspects is the culmination of some fantastic work between many officers and departments.
“We have been following various lines of enquiry to track the suspect’s movements, in the belief that he may have been using various vehicles and a number of cloned plates.
He added: “That outstanding investigative work allowed us to move quickly as soon as we spotted a vehicle of interest last night, and it was a superb piece of collaboration between officers and our colleagues at NPAS who were our eyes in the sky.
“As a Force, we are committed to using every tactic at our disposal to arrest wanted suspects and ensure effective justice is brought against anybody who commits crime in our area.
“I hope this sends out a strong message to any wanted suspects who are trying to lay low and stay off our radar – we will find you and you will be brought into custody.”
Read next:
- Future of Durham City restaurant left ‘in jeopardy’ after burglary
- Miller and Carter Tynemouth – opening date revealed
- Declan Donnelly announces birth of second baby
If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article