OFFICERS took just minutes to chase down and arrest the driver of a suspected stolen car in County Durham after the alarm was raised by colleagues in Cleveland at the weekend.

Shortly before 10.30pm on Friday (May 6), Durham Police force control room were alerted by colleagues at Cleveland Police of a potential stolen vehicle which they believed had travelled over into County Durham.

A Durham Police spokesperson said: “Eagle-eyed traffic cops, from the Road Policing Unit sighted the vehicle in Chilton and began to pursue the driver along Woodham View.

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“Moments later, the driver and passenger decamped from the Audi A4 into The Grove and officers initiated a short foot chase.

“At 10.31pm, officers detained the driver while the dog unit were deployed to Rushyford to look for the other passenger.

“A 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, driving without a license, no insurance, failure to stop and failure to provide and has since been charged.”

He will appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court on June 13.

Following an extensive search of the area, the passenger was also located nearby and detained. The 22-year-old was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and received no further action.

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