Vehicle fitted with a tracker leads to early morning arrest

A stolen vehicle from York has been recovered and a suspect arrested following an early morning pursuit.

At just after 03.30am this morning (Wednesday 05 January 2022) a member of the public in York was woken by a notification from their vehicle tracker device. Quickly checking outside the person noticed that their vehicle was absent which prompted them to call 999.

Police immediately started searching for the vehicle and quickly identified that it was travelling on the A64 towards Leeds. Officers plotted up at the side of the A64 and a short time later the vehicle was in their sight. The vehicle reacted to officers following it and headed off road on to farm land. Following a drive across farmers’ fields the stolen motor vehicle crashed in a hedge.

The driver decamped from the vehicle and a police dog unit as well as the NPAS helicopter was scrambled to search for the suspect. The police helicopter identified a nearby person who was walking across the carriageway of the A1. A unit was guided in and a 25-year-old man was arrested for theft of a motor vehicle and procession of a class b drug. Following the arrest, he was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for a head injury. The man remains in police custody and enquires are continuing.

SGT Tim Wilson of the North Yorkshire Police roads policing group said:

“The use of technology is making life increasingly difficult for vehicle thieves. This incident highlights that vehicle trackers are invaluable and can make all the difference in recovering your stolen property and identifying suspects.

“Technology mixed with the quick thinking of officers on the ground and the assistance of the police helicopter has resulted in a stolen vehicle recovered and one suspect arrested.”