A SUSPECTED burglar has been arrested by police thanks to the support of residents.

Officers received a report that a man had racially abused another member of the public in a takeaway in Dunston, Gateshead, at 6.45pm on Sunday.

Officers attended where they were made aware that the same man was suspected of damaging a number of cars in the area.

It was reported that he had been going from garden to garden, climbing on buildings and even attempted to steal a hot tub.

Police were deployed to the area but the suspect then fled on to railway lines in the area – disrupting rail travel in Gateshead.

Officers, police dogs and the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter were deployed to the area to locate him.

But police have also revealed that a number of residents in Dunston also contacted police to report the whereabouts of the named suspect.

Eventually officers were able to locate the 37-year-old in a nearby garden where he was subsequently arrested.

Now police have praised the response of officers, partners and the members of the public who “rallied together as a community”.

Inspector Andy Gimza said: “This was a large-scale police operation that caused a lot of disruption in the area.

“A number of different agencies were involved and there was a highly visible policing presence across Dunston last night.

“We are very experienced in dealing with incidents of this nature but I was blown away by the support of the public last night.

“We received a number of calls reporting the whereabouts of the named suspect who we were looking for.

“Police, partners and the public rallied together as a community and ultimately they were vital in helping us to locate the suspect.

“He has since been brought in to custody where he will be interviewed about a number of offences.

“However, I want to thank the public for all their support and would continue to ask them to work together with police to keep our communities safe.”

The 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a number of offences and remains in police custody at this time.