Two men and woman armed with commando knife and toolbag found hiding in South Shields community centre

Three people – two men and a woman – have now been arrested and remain in police custody.

Shortly before 1am on Wednesday, March 10, officers were alerted to a break-in at Brinkburn CIO, in South Shields, after security staff found a number of windows had been smashed.

Suspecting people may still be inside, police were deployed to the scene and entered a boarded-up area of the premises to carry out a search.

Officers then located three suspects attempting to hide under the cover of darkness inside the community centre.

The trio were found to be in possession of a toolbag along with a knife and a rucksack, which contained a range of items that could have been stolen.

Two men, aged 20 and 18, and a 20-year-old woman were all arrested on suspicion of burglary and remain in police custody.

Chief Inspector Nicola Wearing, of Northumbria Police, said: “These arrests were the result of some excellent police work with officers at the scene within six minutes and trusting their instinct.

“Inside, they located three intruders who should not have been there – and those individuals will be interviewed by detectives today in relation to the break-in.

“It is hugely disappointing that a facility that sits in the heart of our neighbourhood has been targeted in this way, and I know crimes like this can cause upset within our communities.

“It is therefore imperative that we ensure anyone found responsible is dealt with swiftly and robustly, and a full investigation into the burglary is ongoing.

“I would like to thank the officers who were deployed to the scene and got there so quickly, as well as the security staff who raised the alarm. Their actions have allowed us to bring three suspects into custody.”

Anyone who sees anything suspicious in their community is asked to report it to police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of the force’s website or by calling 101. In an emergency or if a crime is happening, always ring 999.

Support your Gazette and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest football stories and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.