18/06/2007

Handcuffed thief steals police car

A handcuffed car thief who escaped custody by stealing a police car was being hunted last night, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has revealed.

The suspect, who was arrested on suspicion of stealing a car, drove off in the marked vehicle, while shocked officers had been apprehending three culprits.

It is understood the keys had been left in the ignition of the car.

Detectives chased the car through the Poleglass Estate for up to an hour, but he got away and last night was still on the run. The car was later found abandoned on the M1 near Lisburn.

Four men were arrested in the nearby Belsize Road area a short while after.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: “Four men were detained in the area of the Belsize Road. One of those detained made off from the scene wearing handcuffs in a liveried police vehicle into which he had been placed.”

A 19-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident which took place on Sunday evening. He is due to appear at Lisburn Magistrates Court on July 2.

Two of the men arrested have been charged with offences including conspiring to commit burglary, theft and theft of a vehicle, along with a number of motoring offences.

(JM/KMcA)

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