Helicopter, dog and stinger used in pursuit of suspects
THREE PEOPLE ARRESTED AFTER THE ATTEMPTED THEFT OF A CATALYTIC CONVERTER
arrests were made after an operation involving a tyre-bursting stinger device, a helicopter and a police dog overnight.
Police said the incident began when thieves trying to steal a catalytic converter in Highfields Road, Hinckley, were disturbed and fled the scene in a car.
The vehicle was stopped in after a stinger device was used to burst tyres, but the occupants fled on foot.
A police dog from the Special Operations team was called in to track them while the helicopter searched overhead.
Two men, aged 39 and 31, and a 16-year-old boy were later arrested.
A fourth suspect may have got away.
The Road Policing Unit, which stopped the car, said in a tweet in the early hours: “What an abso lutely awesome display of teamwork this evening.
“Suspects stealing catalytic converters in Leicestershire and neighbouring counties identified, located, stung. Suspects run, tracked by dog and arrested.”
They were congratulated by Chief Constable Simon Cole.
On the Market Bosworth police page on Facebook, some Barlestone residents said people had been told to stay indoors while police searched for a fourth sus pect in the area. One asked police: “Why are police telling residents to go indoors if the suspects have been detained?”
Inspector Jamie Osborne said: “Dealing with catalytic convertor thefts has been a priority area for the police.
“We are extremely grateful to members of the public for coming forward immediately.
“It is vitally important any information is reported to us as quickly as possible.
“This was a perfect example of what we can achieve when everyone works closely together.”
Police said the number of thefts of catalytic converters began to rise in late 2018.
In 2018, about 280 such thefts were recorded. That rose to 618 in 2019.
After a lull earlier last year at the start of the pandemic, numbers have risen again in recent months.
Anyone with information about the thefts can call the police on 101.