POLICE have praised staff monitoring a town's security cameras after they helped tackle suspects in two crimes over the past week.

Staff at Careline, in Chester-le-Street, saw two youths who were acting suspiciously in Front Street last Thursday.

Community Inspector Paul Anderson said: "They saw a woman in a car pulling up to junction of roundabout at the top end of Front Street. One of the two youths sitting on bench dashed up to the car opened the passenger door, grabbed her handbag and ran."

PC Steve Brown pursued and arrested the suspects.

Insp Anderson said the handbag along with credit cards and cash were recovered along with other property, suspected to have been from shops in Chester-le-Street.

The youths have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

The previous Monday, staff witnessed an assault on a 65-year-old man. The victim was trapped in a bus stop and at one stage was knocked over.

Two youths have been charged with affray.