Helicopter scrambled in Telford petrol theft chase

Sniffer dogs were also dispatched after two men drove from a forecourt with cans of stolen fuel.

The chase last night was the dramatic latest development in a drive by officers to catch thieves who are blamed for at least two thefts a week from petrol stations.

The police pursuit began after the men drove away from Sainsbury's petrol station at the Telford Forge Retail Park in the direction of Wellington.

The car was traced to the Bracken Grove area where it was dumped and the pair tried to flee on foot. A 32-year-old man was arrested nearby but police failed to locate the other man.

Residents reported seeing a helicopter, the Central Counties Air Support Unit, flying over Wellington at 7pm last night, while dogs were used to carry out searches on the ground.

A woman who saw the commotion, but who did not wish to be named, said: "The helicopter followed my car down the street then when I parked it hovered above me. Police cars and dogs pulled up by the park at Regent Street, and the helicopter continued to circle over the railway line for about 30 minutes. I thought it was a drug bust or something."

Another man reported seeing the helicopter hovering over the Cock Hotel for 20 minutes.

Chris Ammonds, of West Mercia Police, said: "When petrol thefts are reported to us we will do our utmost to trace these individuals and bring them to justice."

Figures revealed by the Shropshire Star showed only 19 convictions were brought against more than 100 drivers who fled Shropshire petrol stations without paying last year.

Of 102 offences, 12 were settled with a community resolution, four people had the crime taken into consideration with other charges and two people were charged.

David Smith, who runs Nix Service Station, in Forton Road, Newport, said offences like these cost him thousands: "If you drive off with petrol worth £50 you have got to sell 2,000 litres just to cover the cost."