A police helicopter was called in to help track down suspects after a group of males in two 4x4s caused damage to a number of vehicles at a North East garage. 

The attack at Thornaby Motor Company in Mandale, at around 11 am yesterday morning (Thursday, August 11), followed several similar incidents in Thornaby overnight.

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: "A group of males pulled into the garage in two 4x4s, got out and caused damage to a number of vehicles in the garage. 

Read more: Males in balaclavas driving 4x4s damage windows and cars in town

"The group dispersed and made off from the scene, with the police helicopter monitoring three of them until police officers arrived to arrest them.

"A 19-year-old and a 17-year-old were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, whilst another 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and possession of a bladed article.

"All three have now been released on police bail whilst officers carry out further enquiries."

Meanwhile, a 32-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy who were arrested earlier in connection with a number of incidents of criminal damage overnight in Thornaby have been released on police bail.

Their arrests came are several males wearing balaclavas and travelling in 4x4 vehicles smashed home windows and damaged cars with bats and poles in the town between 10.30pm on Wednesday (August 9) and 5 am on Thursday (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 earlier: “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.

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“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.”

Anyone with information, ring doorbell footage or dash cam footage on any of the incidents across Thornaby between Wednesday 9th August and Thursday 10th August, or on the incident at Thornaby Motor Company yesterday morning, can either call 101 or upload footage by clicking here.