North Yorkshire Police charged two men after officers on routine patrol found signs of a pub break-in near RAF Leeming on Monday, July 27. The men, both in their 20s from West Yorkshire, remain in police custody while enquiries continue.
RAF Leeming patrol
Officers were carrying out mobile patrols on the evening of Monday, July 27 when they spotted a vehicle parked in suspicious circumstances near the viewing area close to RAF Leeming. The unlocked vehicle contained hammers, screwdrivers and part of a rip saw, and officers also saw a bucket containing shoes and another saw in the rear.
The vehicle drove away, and officers followed it before stopping it near Junction 50 of the A1(M). Searches of the vehicle and the driver and passenger led to items that had not been present when officers first inspected it, and the vehicle and all recovered items have been seized as part of the investigation.
Roman Road pub
Further enquiries led officers to a pub on Roman Road near RAF Leeming, where they found damage consistent with forced entry. Inside the premises, items had been disturbed and cash was scattered across the floor.
Those details tied the vehicle stop to the burglary scene. The first inspection produced tools and other objects; the later searches added items that were not in view at the start, giving investigators a chain from the roadside stop to the pub.
Tom Ibbetson statement
Chief Inspector Tom Ibbetson said, "These arrests demonstrate the value of our nightly proactive operational deployments across North Yorkshire" and "Officers were carrying out tasked patrol activity when they noticed something that did not look right." He added, "Their vigilance, professional curiosity and swift actions led to the identification of a suspected burglary and the arrest of two suspects within a short space of time."
He also said, "The specialist capabilities and patrol activity provided by Operational Support officers not only helps prevent and disrupt criminality but also enable officers to identify suspicious behaviour and respond quickly when offences occur." He urged members of the public to continue reporting suspicious activity, describing public information as "one of the most effective tools."
