Three Arrested After £19,000 Of Suspected Stolen Mobile Phones Recovered

Three people have been arrested after police recovered suspected stolen mobile phones worth around £19,000 in Banbridge, Co Down.

The PSNI conducted a proactive operation while their ANPR Intercept team were conducting patrols in the A1 area of the town on Thursday.

Two women, aged in there 20's and late teens, and a man, aged in his 20's, were arrested on suspicion of a number of offences.

A PSNI spokesperson said: "The Intercept Team assisted by Neighbourhood Policing Team officers from Newry, Mourne and Down were conducting targeted patrols in the A1 area of Banbridge focused on retail crime.

"At around 4.30pm a suspicious vehicle was observed and kept under observation and monitored to the vicinity of a local retail park.

"The driver became aware of police and a short pursuit ensued before being safely and efficiently brought to a controlled stop by the Intercept team a short distance away.

"A large quantity of mobile phones was recovered during a search of the vehicle. Further enquiries have led us to believe that this discovery is linked to a theft which was reported from a nearby shop around the same time.

"At this stage, the value of the stolen phones is believed to be almost £19,000."

The suspects have been detained in police custody and the investigation is ongoing.