A group of teenagers were arrested within minutes of an attempted robbery in Newton Aycliffe – after a police chopper found the unruly youths ‘decamped’ in nearby Eldon.
Officers received reports of the attempted robbery at around 12.30pm on Monday when a man was allegedly kicked off his motorbike in Aycliffe by the gang.
The suspects failed to steal the bike and made off from the scene on a different bike that is believed to have been stolen from the Northumbria area.
A police spokesperson said: “Units from response, the roads and armed policing unit and dog section were dispatched and, with the help of the police helicopter, the vehicle was traced and intercepted in Eldon.
“The suspects decamped and tried to escape but were chased down on foot and are now on their way to custody.
“Thankfully, the victim of the attempted robbery was not seriously injured, and the bike the suspects were riding has been seized.”
