A suspected burglar was arrested, and a haul of suspected stolen goods seized after officers tracked a van following a North Tyneside break-in.

Just after 9pm yesterday (Thursday), officers were out on patrol in the Wallsend area when they spotted a van linked to a burglary which occurred in the early hours the same day.

The officers sprang into action, bringing the van to a safe stop and immediately identified a male occupant who was placed in handcuffs.

The man, aged 35, remains in police custody at this time.

Following the arrest, officers conducted searches at an associated address and located a haul of items believed to be linked to further burglary offences.

Detective Inspector Jude Scott, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is a fantastic outcome with one suspect in custody and suspected stolen goods seized, all thanks to officers taking a proactive approach.

“The Force has dedicated burglary teams who are there to tirelessly pursue perpetrators and try to prevent these types of offences from taking place.

“A full investigation is now ongoing into the discoveries and whether the goods are linked to other burglaries in the area.

“As ever, we would always encourage people to take that extra second to check your doors or windows are locked, and that any valuables are kept out of sight.

“Quite often, we find that opportunist thieves can go from street to street trying car doors or houses hoping that one has been left open. If it is locked, they simply move on to the next street.

“Our advice is to be vigilant and contact us if you see anything in your area which you feel is not quite right.”

If you see anyone acting suspiciously in your community, always report it to police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website or by calling 101.

In an emergency, or if a crime is taking place, always ring 999.