Police were called after three men were spotted inside a vacant home on the outskirts of Newcastle yesterday.

The owner of the home on Runnymede Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, was not present and raised the alarm to police after a security alert.

Officers were deployed to the affluent neighbourhood in Darras Hall, Ponteland just before 7:30pm on Saturday but those said to be in the home had already fled.

Enquiries are ongoing into the incident. 

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “Shortly before 7.30pm yesterday (Saturday) police received a call from a concerned homeowner who reported that three men were inside their home on Runnymede Road in Darras Hall.

“Thankfully the homeowner was not home but had received a security alert on their phone and immediately reported concerns to police.

“Police were deployed to the scene however, those alleged to be involved had fled the scene.

“Enquires remain ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact us via 101, or the ‘Report’ pages of our website, quoting log NP-20240113-0835.”