Teenage boy arrested following robbery in Thatto Heath

A teenage boy has been arrested following a knife point robbery in Thatto Heath in the early hours of this morning (Wednesday 19 April).

At around 1.30am officers received a report that a car was stolen from a taxi driver at knife point on Hempstead Close. 

Four men approached the vehicle of the taxi driver when he stopped to pick up a fare on Hempstead Close. Three of the men got into the car, whilst another man opened the driver’s side door and threatened him with a knife.

As the victim got out of the car the offenders made off in the vehicle– a silver Skoda Octavia.

A 17-year-old boy from St Helens has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and the car has been recovered by police. The suspect was taken to a police station in Merseyside where he remains in custody.

Extensive CCTV and witness enquiries into the incident remain ongoing as detectives continue their investigation in the area.

Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald said: “Thanks to the immediate response and actions of our officers we have arrested a teenage boy and recovered the vehicle this morning in St Helens.

“I hope this response shows that such violence in a residential area where families live will not be tolerated in our community and we are determined to find anyone who was responsible and bring them to justice.

“Our detectives would still like to hear from anyone who was on Hempstead Close or was in the area at around 1.30am and saw the car involved or anything suspicious.

“I would also urge anyone who lives in the area and has any doorbell footage to check your devices in case they captured the incident or anything suspicious from the early hours of this morning.

“Any piece of information could prove vital in our enquiries and prevent such violence in our community.”

If you have any information please contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police Contact Centre with any information quoting reference  23000328647 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: Give information anonymously | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org).