Suspected HGV thieves caught after trying to flee police

Not so fast!

Officers responded to reports of a parked HGV being slashed at Durham Services just after midnight last night with two men being seen taking goods from it.

As officers blue-lighted to the scene, they spotted a suspicious Skoda Octavia parked on the road just outside the services.

When the driver saw the police car, he then did an illegal u-turn and ran a red light.

A pursuit ensued when the car failed to stop.

The car abruptly stopped on the hard shoulder and four men dressed in black legged it across the barrier, putting their lives at risk.

Despite the danger, officers managed to red dot one of the men with a taser and detain him before he managed to get away.

The 32-year-old was arrested on suspicion of theft and possession of a controlled drug and taken into custody.

The driver was also detained at the scene and arrested on suspicion of theft, failing to stop and careless driving.

When the 45-year-old was booked into custody, it was also discovered he was wanted by Police Scotland and he was further arrested for disqualified driving and having no insurance.

The men remain in custody and enquiries are ongoing to locate the other suspects.