Four arrested in morning blitz on vehicle thieves

Four suspected vehicle thieves were arrested today (11 February) – including a teenager thought to be linked to an armed carjacking – as West Midlands Police pledged to keep the pressure on criminals.

The 16-year-old, from Newtown, was detained when officers swooped on an address in the Stratford-upon-Avon area at 7am.

He is wanted for questioning about an armed carjacking on 7 February in which two robbers drove off in a VW Golf from Allesley Road, Olton, having threatened the driver.

An 18-year-old man was also arrested at the address on suspicion of involvement in a burglary in Kineton Lane, Hockley Heath, where an Audi S1 was stolen by offenders who smashed open a door to steal keys.

Earlier this morning, at around 2.30am, West Midlands Police cops pursued a white Ford Fiesta after it made off in Glendover Avenue, Coventry.

The driver rammed their patrol car as officers tried to corner him in Woodcraft Close before the Fiesta crashed in Torrington Avenue.

A man bolted from the car but a West Midlands Police dog handler tracked the suspect to a nearby railway bridge where he was arrested. The car was found to be running on false plates and is understood to have been stolen from Berkswell Road, Longford, on 23 January.

And at 8am today a 17-year-old male from the Stoke area of Coventry was arrested from his home address over a burglary on 4 February in Jackers Road, Longford, when thieves forced entry to a house and stole a Citroen van.

All four remain in police custody for questioning this afternoon.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Ingram from Force CID in Solihull, said: “It’s a great result to bring in four suspected vehicle thieves – including some wanted over violent robberies and burglaries – in the space of a few hours.

“We’ve seen an upturn in car key burglaries and vehicle robberies, but we’re responding with targeted patrols around the region by Central Motorway Police Group officers, who are using intelligence and on-board CCTV cameras to catch and bring offenders to justice.”

Read more: https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/news/four-arrested-morning-blitz-vehicle-thieves