Man arrested in Maghull after PD Quga steps in

A burglary suspect was arrested on a canal path in Maghull with the help of a police dog in the early hours of today (Friday 26 April).

Following a report of a burglary on Red Lion Close in Maghull at 2.20am, a suspect on a bike was seen riding toward the Red Lion bridge at the Leeds Liverpool canal nearby.

Officers were deployed to conduct a search of the area for the offender, and a constable on patrol with PD Quga spotted the suspect from a canal bridge.

As the suspect rode off on a bicycle, he was followed by two other males on foot who were wearing balaclavas.

The man on the bike then rode back towards the officer with PD Quga. When challenged with the dog, the suspect lay on the ground and complied with the officer’s instructions.

Following a search, stolen items were located in the man’s possession including a Dewalt radio, Rayban sunglasses, the blue Carrera mountain bike itself and a hacksaw.

A 33-year-old man from Kirkby was arrested on suspicion of two counts of burglary, theft from a motor vehicle and going equipped for theft and taken into custody for interview.

Detectives continue to carry out CCTV and witness enquiries, and we are appealing for anyone with information or who witnessed the incident to come forward.

Dog Section Inspector Katie Wilkinson said said: “We are extremely proud of the vital role our Dog Section plays in the apprehension of suspects – it is no exaggeration to say their work day in day out helps to protect the people of Merseyside from criminality.

“Burglary has a profound effect on the lives of victims, from the shock of having somebody invade your home, the financial and sentimental cost of having possessions taken and the inconvenience and cost of having property damaged, through to the often severe long-term psychological impacts.

“Since the creation of Merseyside Police’s dedicated burglary team, known as Operation Castle, there has been a significant reduction in burglaries. The team have helped put burglars behind bars, provided advice to businesses and residents and helped create a portal where residents across Merseyside can submit footage of suspicious behaviour.”

The support of our communities is vital in helping us put offenders behind bars. If you discover video footage on your home security camera or smart doorbell that shows someone acting suspiciously on your property, you can upload it for the attention of our dedicated burglary team at Operation Castle here:
https://unitedkingdom1cpp-portal.digital-policing.co.uk/merseyside/appeal/castle

For crime prevention advice go to: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/ and for more, follow our force social media accounts @MerseyPolice on Twitter and Merseyside Police on Facebook and your local account.

Always call 999 if a burglary is in progress. You can also pass information to the social media desk @MerPolCC on Twitter, 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook, call 101 or the independent charity @CrimestoppersUK anonymously, on 0800 555 111.