In the early hours of Saturday morning of 17 July 2021, Norhumbria Police were alerted to a theft from a motor vehicle in the Humbledon Park area of Sunderland.
The victim woke up to a car alarm going off outside the house and upon further inspection realised £1,500 worth of power tools had been stolen from his van.
After checking his CCTV footage, the victim spotted two men acting suspiciously in the area and notified the local authority - while jumping into his van to search the area.
He was then taken aback when one of the males - unaware that he was in fact talking to the victim - asked whether he wanted to buy any power tools.
Police were quickly on the scene and arrested two men – aged 41 and 34 – on suspicion of theft from a motor vehicle. They have since both been charged with the offence and are due to appear in court today (Monday 19 July 2021).
Inspector Marie Pollock, of Northumbria Police, said:
"We take car crime seriously and know the corrosive impact that it can have on the spirit within our communities. The victim in this case deserves huge credit for his decisive actions. After realising his van had been broken into, he called police and worked with us to help guide officers towards the location of two suspects nearby. That meant we were able to seize various items believed to have been stolen including power tools and after shave. This is an excellent outcome that once again showed the value of the public reporting incidents to us."
Inspector Pollock spoke of a result and said:
"As a result, two suspects will appear before the courts to answer their respective charges."
Inspector Pollock would like to reassure the public and concluded:
"Our officers will continue to patrol hotspot areas and are committed to taking swift and robust action against thieves and burglars, and this case once again highlights how the public can work hand-in-hand with us in order to ensure our city remains a safe place to live and work."
Inspector Pollock also reminded residents to take an extra second to help deter opportunistic offenders eyeing a quick win.
She, said:
"Quite often, thieves can go street by street trying car or house doors in the hope that one is unlocked. If they are locked, they then move on to the next car and next street. I'd always encourage people to check and double check that their cars and doors are locked, and any valuables kept out of sight. By working together, we will continue to bring thieves and burglars to justice."
Anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area or who may have information to assist the investigation is asked to contact police by calling 101 quoting log NP-20210717-0207.
Alternatively those who wish to remain anonymous can forward details to CrimeStoppers by calling 0800555111.