Man arrested after police trace stolen van and digger

Nottinghamshire Police officers worked with colleagues from other forces to track down two stolen vehicles.

A mini-digger was reported stolen from a building site in Derby Road, Mansfield, at around 10.45pm on Wednesday (16 August).

Officers made use of a tracker attached the digger and it was located travelling through the county, into Derbyshire and towards South Yorkshire.

Officers from South Yorkshire Police pulled over a van in Doncaster with the digger found on an attached trailer in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The van had previously been reported stolen from an address in Derbyshire and was being driven on false registration plates - with the real ones discovered inside the vehicle.

A 53-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of the theft of two motor vehicles and possessing an article for use in fraud.

Inspector Katie Eustace, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We are working hard as a force to prevent vehicle crime occurring in the first place as well as bring to justice those responsible.

“We understand the impact motor vehicle crime can have on individuals and businesses who rely on them to get around.

“This was an example of how we work closely with neighbouring forces to trace stolen vehicles and arrest suspects.”