Several males wearing balaclavas and travelling in 4x4 vehicles smashed home windows and damaged cars with bats and poles in a North East town overnight.

Police are appealing for information after a series of incidents in Thornaby between 10.30pm last night (August 9) and 5 am this morning (August 10).

A number of males wearing balaclavas, travelled in 4x4 vehicles to addresses across Thornaby, smashing windows and damaging cars with bats and poles.

Police said addresses in Queens Avenue, Avon Close, Beechwood Road, Hazel Grove, Shetland Avenue, Heslop Street and Victor Way were targeted.

In one incident males allegedly forced their way into a property on Queens Avenue at around 10.30pm searched the house and stole a mobile phone.

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “The property on Avon close was targeted soon after, at around 10.40pm, with eight people arriving in two 4x4 vehicles and smashing windows at the address. “At around 10:50pm, an address on Hazel Grove was targeted with windows smashed.

“Shortly before 11pm, two vehicles and a motorbike pulled up at an address on Beechwood Road, before men in balaclavas got out and smashed the windows and doors of the house with baseball bats.

“At 2am, seven men wearing black tracksuits and balaclavas got out of three vehicles on Heslop Street and smashed the windows to a house before causing damage to three vehicles.

“A Nissan Terrano at the rear of Victor Way was set alight at around 5am this morning. Men are believed to have travelled to this address in a red 4x4.”

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Police confirmed a 32-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy were arrested in connection with the incidents and remain in police custody.

Any witnesses, or anyone with CCTV, ring doorbell footage or dashcam footage is asked to call 101 quoting reference SE23158081.

You can upload footage by clicking on the link below: https://unitedkingdom1cpp-portal.digital-policing.co.uk/cleveland/appeal/appeal-for-information-following-incidents-in-thornaby-overnight