Cab driver reunited with taxi two hours after it was stolen after he stepped out to have a cigarette

Image credit: Piqsels

A taxi driver was reunited with his cab just two hours after it was reported as stolen thanks to rapid action from the Motor Patrols team and K9 unit.

The theft was reported to Northumbria Police shortly after 7.15pm on Monday 23 November, after the driver had briefly left the vehicle parked on Bedeburn Road, Newbiggin Hall to have a cigarette.

Officers from the Operations Department were tasked with tracking down the Silver Ford Mondeo and teams from Op Dragoon, dogs unit and Firearms Support Unit (FSU) hit the road in search of the vehicle.

A short time later, the taxi was found abandoned nearby on Eastgarth and thanks to rapid door-to-door and CCTV enquiries the suspected offenders were quickly identified.

Eagle-eyed officers then spotted the same two males loitering in the area and arrested them on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.

Chief Inspector Sam Rennison praised the quick response and speedy result, calling it a ”fantastic piece of policing“ by a number of different officers and teams.

An investigation into the incident has been launched and a 26-year-old man and a 15-year-old male have since been released under investigation.