Police track bungling car thief through the snow

A bungling car thief was arrested after police followed his bicycle tracks through the snow.

Eyewitnesses saw the man break into a car in Taunton, Somerset, last night and make off on the bike with tools and a satellite navigation system.

Officers said he believed he was hidden in the darkness and bad weather, but in reality the snow made his capture quite straightforward.

Pc Dave Hughes, of Avon and Somerset Police, followed the tyre tracks across pavements and roads for half a mile, which led him straight to the suspect's house.

Following his arrest for theft from a motor vehicle, officers searched the man's home and found the stolen tools and satnav.

The suspect is currently in police custody pending further investigations.

Inspector Sam Williams, from Taunton Police Station, said: "This clearly demonstrates the initiative and dedication of our staff in literally tracking down those who commit crime and bringing them to justice.

"The snow has caused some problems across the region in the past few days but in this case it was a great help."

Mr Williams added: "Unfortunately opportunist thieves and criminals operate in all weathers so people should remember to keep their cars locked and not to leave valuable items on display."