Armed police recover stolen car from Harborough and round up five armed suspects - with the help of a heroic dog

Three men from Harborough were arrested after armed police backed up by a heroic police dog swooped on a car just 90 minutes after it was stolen in Market Harborough.

Two suspects from Market Harborough and a man from Kibworth Harcourt were among five men detained in the stolen car drama on Tuesday night (March 9).

The men were arrested after the white Audi TT was stolen outside a house on Northampton Road, Market Harborough, said Leicestershire Police.

The vehicle was quickly tracked down on Leicester Road, Oadby, using automatic number plate recognition and it was surrounded by two police cars at about 11.30pm.

A second vehicle was also stopped.

A total of five suspects from the two cars were arrested as Armed Response Vehicle (ARV) officers were supported by hero police dog Spike.

A quantity of drugs suspected to be Class A and a knife were recovered by police and the stolen vehicle has now been returned to its owner.

Spike, a German shepherd, was saluted for his “pivotal” role in the crime drama shortly after celebrating his birthday with his proud team.

The two men from Market Harborough, aged 37 and 38, were arrested for theft of a motor vehicle.

The 48-year-old man from Kibworth Harcourt was seized for theft of a motor vehicle and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

Two other men, aged 32 and 38, from Leicester, were arrested for theft of a motor vehicle and possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply.

All have now been freed “under investigation” after being quizzed as enquiries into the incident are stepped up.

Leicestershire Police Roads Policing Unit (RPU) said delighted Spike tucked into cake that night after playing a vital role in the suspects’ arrests.

“Stolen vehicle recovered within 90 minutes, drugs and weapons from another and recovered also,” tweeted the RPU.

“Great work by the teams and, of course, Spike and his mum.”