Suspected shoplifter snared in Washington as police find haul of Easter eggs and alcohol in car boot

A suspected shoplifter was arrested by Northumbria Police after a routine vehicle stop in Washington led officers to a haul of Easter eggs and alcohol.
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Officers on patrol in Washington came across a vehicle linked to a suspected theft at around 11.15am on Tuesday, March 9.

The force said the Vauxhall Astra was believed to be connected to a theft at an Iceland in Blaydon, where chocolate and alcohol had been taken from the shelves.

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Police signalled for the car to stop and went on to discover hundreds of pounds worth of alcohol and Easter eggs in the boot.

Officers discovered a haul of stolen Easter eggs and alcohol in the boot of the car.Officers discovered a haul of stolen Easter eggs and alcohol in the boot of the car.
Officers discovered a haul of stolen Easter eggs and alcohol in the boot of the car.
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The 49-year-old female driver was arrested on suspicion of theft and the items have been seized by officers. The woman has since been released pending further investigation.

Inspector Dean Hood, of Northumbria Police’s Motor Patrols Department, has praised the traffic officers who made the stop for their proactivity in ensuring the stolen goods were recovered.

He said in a statement: “This was a fantastic stop by our motor patrols officers. [They] did not hesitate to act on their suspicions when they saw this vehicle.

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“Vehicle checks linked the Astra to a shoplifting in Blaydon and, sure enough, we found the stash of Easter eggs in the boot.

“It was a brazen theft and we are glad we have been able to recover some of the goods and keep them out of the hands of thieves.

“But it wouldn’t have been possible without our officers noticing something that didn’t look quite right and acting upon their instinct.”

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