POLICE have arrested a suspected thief after a chase that has been likened to a scene from Hot Fuzz.

Officers from Northumbria Police arrested the man after a foot chase through back gardens in Newcastle.

Police said it probably looked like a scene from Hot Fuzz when neighbourhood officers pursued the man through Cowgate in the late morning dash.

Officers attended the area on May 29 in a bid to locate a 22-year-old man who was wanted for a string of offences, including burglary and theft of a motor vehicle.

Enquiries led officers to Heathfield Crescent where they located the man hiding in a rear garden - but the suspect was in no mood to give himself up easily as he made off through a number of neighbouring properties.

Police swooped in fast and a number of surrounding streets were shut down, while the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter was watching from above.

The net eventually closed in on the wanted fugitive who was placed under arrest by police.

Now the 22-year-old has been charged with a string of offences including burglary, two counts of theft of motor vehicle, two counts of theft from motor vehicle, making off without payment and a string of driving offences.

He appeared before magistrates in North Tyneside on June 1 where he was remanded in custody to appear before Newcastle Crown Court at a later date.

Sergeant Graham Yare, of Northumbria Police, said: “This was an outstanding piece of police work from the investigative work that tracked the suspect down to the pursuit through the gardens in Cowgate.

“The persistence, determination and teamwork of all involved was at the highest level and it was a fantastic result to bring a suspect into custody.

“It was a joint effort by the Neighbourhood Team and their response colleagues  - involving some excellent pieces of police work by the arresting officers.

“As a Neighbourhood Team we look at crime patterns whenever they come in and our knowledge of the individuals in our area is much better than they think. 

“We have the resources and the drive to track down those wanted for outstanding offences and I hope results like this one reassures the wider community.”

Anyone who wants to report suspicious behaviour to police can do so by calling police on 101 or reporting it online at the Northumbria Police website.