Armed police officers were deployed after a convoy of suspected stolen vehicles were spotted travelling through a County Durham town on Wednesday (July 13) evening.

Specialist officers were deployed to West Auckland Road in Shildon at around 11.50pm following reports of several suspected stolen vehicles had been seen in the area.

After contacting a call handler who began several checks to verify the vehicle and the convoy vehicle, roads and armed officers were sent, with the officers managing to locate and stop the convoy vehicle which contained four occupants.

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Following a vehicle search, several items were recovered including a Tibbe key and a ‘how to’ manual.

Three men and a teenage boy were arrested on suspicion of theft of the transit and several other offences including drug driving, disqualified driving, and possession of an offensive weapon.

Following further patrols by B Relief Roads and Armed officers, the other stolen Ford Transit van was located around five hours later, on Green Lane, Spennymoor.

Both vehicles have been recovered and will now be forensically examined.

The four suspects aged, 39, 37, 29 and 16 remain in custody.

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