Police searches in South Shields after five masked men steal Audi in armed robbery

Members of the public reported seeing police vehicles, alongside armed officers and dogs, in South Shields town centre at around 11.15pm on Tuesday, January 14.

Northumbria Police has confirmed that the force was assisting Cleveland Police with an investigation into an armed robbery, which took place earlier that night.

A Northumbria Police spokesman confirmed to the Gazette that its officers were helping with searches following the incident.

He said: “We can confirm that a number of officers were in South Shields last night to carry out searches in support of Cleveland Police as part of ongoing investigation into an armed robbery in their force area.

“Nobody was arrested during the searches in South Shields.”

Cleveland Police officers were called to a home in Greenlea, Hartlepool, at around 8.30pm on Tuesday after five men, who wore balaclavas, entered the address with a machete and firearm before making off in an Audi S3.

The five robbers had been travelling in a Ford Mondeo, which was later recovered by police officers in Durham.

No one was injured in the robbery, and police inquiries are ongoing on Wednesday, January 15.

Officers are appealing for anyone with information regarding the men responsible or information regarding the incident to contact Cleveland Police on 101 quoting 007638.

Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org.