Stolen quad bike found thanks to special constable

Confirmed successful sting.

After a suspicious Ford Transit was spotted in the Barnard Castle area in the early hours of this morning, Special Constable Salkeld (out on nightshift with Durham Roads and Armed Policing B relief team) quickly picked it up and linked it to rural thefts.

Working with colleagues, a stinger operation was set up as the van headed towards Spennymoor, travelling in convoy with a Fiat Panda. Both vehicles failed to stop for officers on route, but they didn’t realise we were already one step ahead.

With SC Salkeld in position, both vehicles were successfully stung, bringing the Panda to a stop, with the driver being arrested.

The Transit driver however had other ideas and attempted to ram officers before being stopped and arrested – turns out he was wanted for a number of other offences and also on recall to prison.

Officers then discovered their motivation to avoid police… a suspected stolen quad bike was found in the back of the van, with the matching key in the driver's pocket.

A foolish move on April Fool’s Day.