Update from April 2024.

Following report's of an unknown male in Rothbury acting suspiciously on Tuesday the 16th April 2024, Alnwick Neighbourhood Policing Team were able to instigate further enquires - leading to his arrest and charge.

The unknown male had been reported to have attended shops in Rothbury attempting to gain access to the staff areas of the shops, further enquires into these reports, alongside concerns raised that the same male had been into a business in the Gosforth area the same day.

The information gathered from the Community was assessed and converted into Actionable Intelligence, this was promptly shared with specialist officers with Police Scotland based at Randolphfield Police Station in Stirling.

On Friday the 19th April 2024 officers from CID in Newcastle along with Response officers from Bedlington, assisted officers from Police Scotland's Priority Crime Team who conducted joint arrest enquiries for this male in Glasgow.

At 1900hrs the same day a Romanian national was arrested for two Burglary offences in Northumbria, being later charged with these offences, and also breaching a deportation order.

It is thought the male will likely have been attempting either a distraction Theft or distraction Burglary, where slight of hand using a newspaper as a prop to steal high value items like mobile phones will likely have been his intention.  

Whilst this is a very unusual Modus Operandi to use, the community should be reassured the male will not be returning anytime soon.  

This was only possible firstly due to the vigilant actions of shop staff, in particular one member of staff who should be looking to join the Police in the near future; and secondly the prompt reporting of the suspicious activity to Northumbria Police.

As always the reporting of suspicious activity and incidents to Police, can be reported via 101 (in a non-emergency), 999 (in an emergency) or online via Report | Northumbria Police alternatively online to CrimeStoppers via Giving information anonymously | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org)