A CROSS-border operation has led to five arrests after suspected thieves attempted to make a getaway on the A1(M).

Traffic officers from forces in County Durham, North Yorkshire and Northumbria were all involved in the effort to stop a silver Audi A4 in connection with multiple thefts reported in the Tyne and Wear area.

Durham Police’s Road Policing Unit (RPU) followed the vehicle as it travelled along the southbound carriageway on Saturday afternoon (January 21), with reports that a large amount of electronic goods were stashed inside the Audi.

North Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Group (RPG) joined the pursuit as the car crossed the county border with officers executing a Tactical Pursuit and Containment (TPAC) manoeuvre to stop the car on the A1(M).

Five people inside the Audi were arrested in connection with thefts allegedly committed in Northumbria Police's patch.

The three forces took to social media to warn would-be criminals that crossing borders will not end an ongoing pursuit.

North Yorkshire RPG tweeted: “Think you can run to the county line? Think again.

“Theft in Northumbria, followed by @DurhamRPU into NYP and tactically stopped #Teamwork.

“Five people in custody and a large number of electronic goods recovered. Great teamwork tackling cross border criminality.”

Northumbria Police’s Operation Dragoon – a team dedicated to increasing road safety – added that “crime has no borders”.