Three men arrested after stolen vehicles, firearm and suspected drugs found

Three men from Merseyside have been arrested following the discovery of stolen vehicles, a firearm and suspected drugs found.

Just before midnight on Monday 6 January officers were informed that three men were loading a car on to a tow truck in a car park on Aigburth Drive, Sefton Park.

Officers attended and recovered an Audi Q7 which was reported stolen. Following a search at the scene, officers found a car key related to another suspected stolen Audi, tools and a bag of white powder.

A further search was conducted at a house in Fazakerley where an air rifle and four suspected stolen vehicles - a Sur-Ron bike, a scrambler bike and two vans – and car parts were found.

Yesterday three men were arrested for the following:

• A 40-year-old man from Halewood was arrested on suspicion of theft of motor vehicle and refusing to provide a sample for a Class A drugs test
• A 34-year-old man from Halewood was arrested on suspicion of theft of motor vehicle, going equipped for theft of a motor vehicle, and possession of a Class A controlled drug
• A 30-year-old man from Fazakerley was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.

They have been bailed pending further enquiries and the investigation is ongoing.

Detective Inspector Mike Fletcher said: “This was an excellent piece of police work were a firearm, suspected stolen vehicles and Class A drugs were found and taken off the streets to prevent any harm from taking place.

“Seizing the air rifle means there is one less weapon on our streets which could have been used to cause fear and intimidation in our communities.

“We rely on community intelligence to discover where weapons are being stored and who is using them and I would ask that the public to be our eyes and ears.”

Detective Inspector Fletcher added: “We all know too well the harm, distress and annoyance that the illegal and anti-social use of electric bikes and scrambler bikes cause to our communities and their use by those involved in serious criminality. They are often ridden illegally without insurance or road tax.

“The offenders who ride them anti-socially not only pose a threat to other road users and pedestrians, they risk their own safety by riding too fast, through red lights and often without a helmet.

“Information from our community is vital if we are to stop such violent crimes that causes fear in our communities."

Anyone with any information about criminal activity in their neighbourhood is asked to call Merseyside Police on 101, DM us @MerPolCC or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.