Two teenagers arrested on suspicion of burglary after police followed their footprints in the snow at a South Shields community centre

Police were called at about 4.45am on Wednesday, February 10, to Brinkburn Community Centre on Harton Lane, in South Shields after receiving a call relating to a suspected break in.

Officers arrived at the scene within three minutes and were quickly able to track footprints in the snow leading to a drainpipe, with the National Police Air Service (NPAS) discovering more footprints on the roof.

The helicopter began to leave the scene, believing that the suspects had gone to ground which then prompted two teenagers to move from cover and straight into the path of police, who had surrounded the area.

Two males, aged 14 and 15, were subsequently arrested on suspicion of burglary and remain in police custody at this time.

Northumbria Police’s chief inspector, Nicola Wearing, has praised the efforts of the response teams for their quick response and work in catching the suspects.

She said: “This was a brilliant all-round response from officers, our Dog Section and the brilliant team at NPAS.

“We were alerted to the break-in by a member of the public who saw something suspicious and absolutely did the right thing by informing us.

“What followed was a swift response, with cops on the scene within three minutes, and the heavy snowfall certainly played into our hands – and proved a significant stumbling block for our suspected intruders.

“With eyes on the ground and above from the helicopter, it was only a matter of time before we were able to detain two teenage suspects who will now be interviewed in connection with the incident.

“I’d like to thank everybody who was involved in this early-morning job – it was a fantastic piece of teamwork which has enabled us to achieve a quick and positive outcome.”

Anyone who sees anything suspicious in their community is asked to report it to Northumbria Police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of their website or by calling 101.

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.