A FOURTH suspect has been arrested amid police inquiries into a spate of burglaries earlier this week.

The latest arrest was made by Durham Police at an address in Peterlee, early today (Wednesday December 31).

It came in the wake of an ongoing investigation into break-ins at properties across North Yorkshire, which resulted in two suspects being arrested following a dramatic police chase, observed by bemused city centre sales shoppers, 60 miles further north.

A large amount of jewellery and a Mercedes car were taken in one of the burglaries, in Whitby, North Yorkshire, on Monday (December 29).

It led to a combined investigation involving North Yorkshire Police as well as the Cleveland and Durham forces.

The first arrest was made in the Brandon area, near Durham, at 1am on Tuesday, when a man was detained on suspicion of involvement in the Whitby break-in.

A North Yorkshire force spokesman subsequently said that following questioning the 40-year-old man was released on police bail to allow for further inquiries to be completed.

As the investigation continued, North Yorkshire officers attempted to stop a Vauxhall Vectra in the Wheatley Hill area of County Durham, at 12.50pm on Tuesday.

When the car failed to stop, officers from the joint Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit joined the pursuit. The Vectra headed northwards, through Easington Lane, before veering westwards towards the villages of Pittington and West Rainton.

It then headed towards Durham on the A690 dual carriageway.

A BMW police vehicle was damaged as the pursuit passed Gilesgate roundabout, approaching the city centre, although no-one was injured.

The pursuit reached a conclusion as the Vectra entered the Walkergate multi-storey car park, striking a barrier and colliding with an parked vehicle.

Occupants of the car then fled on foot, with one said to have been detained nearby, in the vicinity of the Premier Inn Hotel, in Freeman’s Place, at 1.15pm, and another arrested a short time later near the rear entrance to Durham Indoor Market, in Fowler’s Yard.

Durham Police said the pair, a 33-year-old man from Easington, and a 42-year-old, from Peterlee, were arrested on suspicion of burglary and continued to be questioned today (Wednesday December 31).

As inquiries continued to try to trace other potential occupants of the car, a 37-year-old woman was arrested at her home address at 5.30am today (Wednesday).

She was also later said to be helping police inquiries.