Two charged following suspected aggravated burglary in Murton

Stand still! Police with a dog.

We were called shortly after midnight yesterday (December 19) to an aggravated burglary in progress at a property in Murton, near Seaham.

Officers from Durham Roads and Armed Policing Unit quickly located a vehicle that was suspected to have been used in the incident on the A19 near Murton.

A 28-year-old man was arrested at the vehicle, while a second man had allegedly run off from the scene.

PD Odin and his handler, PC Dave Charlton, were deployed to the area where they carried out a lengthy and extensive search through dense woodland.

With help from our colleagues in the sky – the National Police Air Service (NPAS) – the pair managed to locate a 36-year-old man and he was arrested. 

During the search, PC Charlton sustained an injury after being struck in the eye with a thorn, while PD Odin suffered a small leg injury.

Thankfully, they’re both okay and are recovering well.

Two men have been charged following the incident. They have been remanded in custody to appear at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Detective Constable Ash Hagar, from East Durham CID, said: “Our detectives worked a 17-hour shift to secure charges following this incident.

“This was a great team effort between CID, roads policing, and colleagues from the dog section.”