Burglars stopped by quick thinking response officers had sledge hammer and crow bar in car

Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Monday 17th February 2025, at 11:50hrs

A quantity of cash and tobacco products were also found inside the vehicle following a search

Quick-thinking Doncaster officers carrying out patrols in the dead of the night stopped a suspected burglar in his tracks after being alerted to a suspicious vehicle which had weapons and stolen property hidden within it.

Just after 3am last Wednesday (12 February), officers were on a routine patrol in the Sandringham Road area when they encountered a black Audi A3 with three people inside it.

The driver appeared to be avoiding eye contact with the police vehicle, prompting officers to tail the Audi to monitor its movements.

The vehicle began to increase it speed in an apparent attempt to get away from officers and the Audi was soon found abandoned, with the front passenger door wide open and the car empty.

A 41-year-old man who was driving the Audi was spotted by an officer a short distance away and arrested on suspicion of burglary.

A search of the Audi led to officers finding a sack full of tobacco pouches and cigarettes which had been stolen during a raid at a newsagents in Cantley earlier that same morning.

A crowbar and a sledgehammer were also found in the Audi following a thorough search by officers, along with bags of coins and bank notes.

Sergeant Mark Harratt said:

“It is the duty of our response officers to be alert and to proactively patrol their communities so they can detect criminality and keep the public safe.

“In this instance, our suspicions were raised by the Audi in question and a thorough search of the vehicle led to the discovery of property stolen during a burglary just hours earlier.

“An effective initial investigation by PC Spokes and PC Hobson allowed us to identify the property stolen and recovered in the Audi. It was an all-round team effort.

“We know the devastating impact a crime like burglary can have on victims and we are pleased to have recovered the stolen items and returned them to their rightful owner.”