FOUR suspected burglars were arrested by police officer who responded to two separate break-ins – within just 45 minutes.

The team of Northumbria Police response officers have been praised after their "dogged detective work" in Newcastle in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

They had first received a call at 12.40am from a member of the public reporting two men acting suspiciously on Grainger Street.

Sergeant Paul Gledhill and his team arrived on scene and stopped the two suspects – finding them in possession of a haul of suspected stolen goods.

The goods were marked with stickers linking them to a Cash Converters in Byker and when police attended the premises they found it had been burgled.

Entry had been gained via the roof and the two men – aged 31 and 30 – were arrested and taken into police custody.

But while the officers were responding to that raid another call came over the radio at 1.25am reporting an alarm was going off at a pub on Shields Road in Byker.

Sgt Gledhill and his team sprang into action again and deployed to The High Main to see what was happening.

Upon arrival they noticed entry had been gained to the pub and, when they went to investigate, officers found two intruders loitering inside.

The men – aged 47 and 36 – were also arrested and taken into custody. All four suspected thieves currently remain in cells at Forth Banks Police Station.

Praising the efforts of the night shift response team, Chief Inspector Gary Richardson, of Northumbria Police, said:“This was a fantastic piece of work by our response teams in the city and a huge well done has to go to Sgt Gledhill and his team,” said Ch Insp Richardson.

“Two calls have come in within 45 minutes and the same officers have responded to both reported break-ins before bringing four suspects into custody.

“If it was not for that swift response then vital evidence could have been missed or the suspects may have been able to escape the scene.

“But we ensured the burglaries were prioritised and we have been rewarded with a fantastic result on what turned out to be a busy night shift.

“We hope this response, and the four arrests, reassures residents and businesses in Newcastle that we remain committed to keeping you safe.”

Anyone who wants to report an incident to police can do so online at the Northumbria Polcie website or by calling 101.

If a crime is in action, or if there is an immediate risk to person or property, then you should always dial 999.