Stolen motorbike recovered and four arrested after police dog search

On Saturday morning police received a report that a black moped had been stolen from a garden shed outside an address in the Marley Potts area of Sunderland.

Having launched an investigation, officers later that evening police received a report that the moped had been sighted in the Ford Estate.

Response teams were deployed to the area alongside PD Raven and her handler PC Lora Smiles.

They tracked through the area and the seven-year-old Dutch Herder eventually located a group of teenagers in a backyard of a property.

The stolen moped was found in their possession along with another motorcycle and a number of tools including bolt cutters and pliers.

Four male suspects – one aged 30, two 17 and the other 16 – were also arrested on suspicion of burglary.

Chief Inspector Mick Hall, of Northumbria Police’s Operations Department, praised the officers involved in the recovery operation.

“We know that motorcycle disorder and anti-social behaviour has a huge impact on the lives of residents across our region,” he said.

“Our neighbourhood officers are committed to identifying those involved and putting preventative measures in place to improve people’s lives.

“But we also know that many of the motorcycles being ridden in an anti-social manner are actually stolen so lots of work goes into targeting thieves.

“This particular incident is a fantastic example of us acting on community intelligence and taking action to recover a stolen moped just hours after it was reported missing.

“I want to praise the officers involved in this investigation and in particular I want to thank PC Smiles and Raven who were crucial to securing the recovery and arrests.

“We hope that this response reassures our communities that we are committed to tackling motorcycle crime and bring suspected thieves into custody.”

The four males arrested on suspicion of burglary have all been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Any readers who want to report similar incidents to the force can do so online at the Northumbria Police website.