Three arrested after reports of masked men in Cleadon area

A trio of suspected burglars were arrested after eagle-eyed residents saw them acting suspiciously on the street – and raised the alarm to police.

 Officers were alerted to suspicious activity taking place in East Boldon Road, Cleadon, shortly before 4.40am on Monday, August 21.

It was reported that three masked men were allegedly trying door handles of properties on the street, as well as looking inside of parked cars.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "Wary of this activity, a number of witnesses soon contacted police to report what was happening.

"Officers were swiftly deployed to the scene where it was alleged that a male resident on the road had also been assaulted while trying to challenge a suspect who had entered his home.

"Believing their suspects were still in the area, officers scoured the surrounding streets – and quickly located three men who matched the witnesses’ description a few streets away."

The men – aged 41, 48 and 56 – were subsequently arrested on suspicion of burglary, with one suspect having a car key in his possession believed to be linked to a recent report of theft in the Fencehouses area of Sunderland, according to Northumbria Police.

The 41-year-old man has since been charged with a string of offences including burglary, attempted theft of a motor vehicle and assault as part of the investigation.

He will appear before Newcastle Crown Court in late September. The two other men were released on police bail, pending further enquiries.

Detective Sergeant Angela Lewis, of Northumbria Police, said: “This was a fantastic response with officers acting quickly on the concerns of the community.

"Thanks to their fast-time information and acting on the hunch that something wasn’t quite right, we were able to get to the scene swiftly and locate three suspects.

“It was a brilliant piece of teamwork and information sharing between the public and our officers.

"As a result, we interviewed a man in custody who has since been charged in connection with not only this incident, but a number of others committed in the area that we suspect he was involved in.

Two others were released on police bail while our investigation continues.

“We would always encourage anybody who sees anything they believe to be suspicious to get in touch as soon as possible.

"That way, we can continue to work together to ensure our region remains as safe as it possibly can be.”

Det Sgt Lewis added: “This also comes as a timely reminder for the wider public, including businesses, to continue to work with us to help reduce the impact burglary and theft can have by ensuring doors, windows and properties are kept secure and valuables out of view.

"These simple steps can hopefully deter any opportunistic thieves who might be trying their luck to gain access to your home, premises or vehicles in case they have been left unlocked.

“We will continue to work closely with the public, businesses and partners to ensure any burglars and thieves are identified, arrested and brought to justice.”

Based at Southwick Police Station, Det Sgt Lewis leads a dedicated burglary team that are tasked with reviewing every break-in across South Tyneside and Sunderland.

They work closely with neighbourhood officers to monitor trends and hotspots to assist in pursuing offenders.

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

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