Wanted man arrested after officers tracked suspected stolen car

A top wanted target has been arrested, after officers tracked a suspected stolen car thought to be using cloned plates.

Around 7.30pm yesterday (Tuesday), officers were alerted to a vehicle of interest that was travelling in the Shiremoor area of North Tyneside.

This follows 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.

Within minutes of the sighting, officers were deployed to the area from the Force’s Operation Department, supported by the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter overhead.

They tracked a white Skoda towards Heaton, before the occupants of the vehicle tried to flee on foot.

Officers however, were prepared for this and a short while later a 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle. He remains in police custody.

The suspect was also wanted in connection with a range of offences, those of which include dangerous driving, failing to stop and no insurance use.

Another male, a 16-year-old, was also detained and will be interviewed by officers.

Chief Inspector Mick Hall, of Northumbria Police, 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 in order to track the suspect’s movements, in the belief that he may have been using various vehicles and a number of cloned plates.

“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 in order 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.”

Anybody who has information about criminality in their area, or believes they know where a wanted suspect is residing, is asked to report it to police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of the Northumbria Police  website. Alternatively, you can pass on information anonymously via independent charity Crimestoppers by ringing 0800 555 111.