TWO suspected robbers were found hiding in a garden shed after police “eyes in the sky” noticed a suspicious heat source guided officers directly to them.

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter was scrambled after police received a report of a robbery in the Roker Avenue area of Sunderland at about 12.20am yesterday.

It was alleged two men got out of a vehicle and threatened the victim before stealing his e-scooter.

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A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “An investigation was launched and later we spotted a car matching its description travelling in Pallion.

“With the support of the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter, we tracked it to Hylton Castle and found it abandoned, with the occupants having made off.

“So our officers scoured the area and soon enough we were notified by the helicopter operatives of a suspicious heat source coming from a shed in a nearby garden.

“Two men – aged 24 and 19 – were subsequently located inside the shed and arrested on suspicion of robbery. They remain in custody at this time.”

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The spokesperson added: “Absolutely brilliant work by everyone involved, including our partners at NPAS who once again proved how valuable an asset they are in the detection and disruption of crime across our region.

“We hope this sends a strong message to any criminals in our area – you cannot hide, and if we believe you to have been involved in any kind of criminality, you will be pursued, caught and brought into custody for questioning.”

Anyone wishing to apply to the force’s uniformed officer recruitment programme should search 'Northumbria Police careers' on Google.

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