Car crime crackdown reaps the rewards

A man is due in court later this year following a crackdown in Hebburn tackling car-related crime.

Since the turn of the year, officers have been made aware of some concerns about individuals targeting unlocked cars.

As a result, officers have trawled through hours of CCTV footage in a bid to identify suspects.

After speaking to one resident in the Chaffinch Drive area of the town about an attempted theft, officers identified a possible suspect – and have now charged a 42-yearold man from the Felling area of Gateshead with vehicle interference.

He is due to appear before magistrates in South Tyneside later this year.

Inspector Denise Easdon, of Northumbria Police, revealed how good community relations helped identify problems in the area.

She said: “By chatting with the communities we serve, we became aware of some concerns about car-related crime under the cover of darkness.

“As a result, I set my team out to get their hands on CCTV in a bid to gain a clearer picture and identify potential suspects. After speaking with one resident about a particular report, we carried out enquiries and were able to bring one man into custody. He has now been charged with vehicle interference and will appear before the courts later this year.

“We will continue to take action against anybody we suspect is involved in this type of criminality and a visible policing presence will continue to patrol in the area to offer reassurance to the public. Our message is simple – we will not tolerate it, and we are taking action.”

Anyone who sees anything suspicious in their area is asked to contact us via the Report an Incident page of our website. In an emergency, ring 999.