Three people are on the run after a 125mph chase through Merseyside saw a stinger used by officers.
Lancashire Police became aware of a stolen Ford Fiesta in Southport, close to the border between Merseyside Police and Lancashire Police last week. Patrols in the area spotted the vehicle and began chasing it through Merseyside. The car was being driven at speeds of 125mph before being stung by police waiting further along the road.
Three people made off from the car and were not found. The car was reported as stolen from St Helens, with a battery drill and pliers, likely to be used for burglaries, recovered.
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The car keys were later found by officers searching the area, with the vehicle to be returned to its rightful owner.
This came as part of a week of action from Lancashire Police where they stopped and checked a number of vehicles between Friday, April 15 and Thursday, April 21. In that time 146 vehicles have been seized by police for various offences.
A total of 83 vehicles were seized under the under Section 99 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (Abandoned vehicles).This offence also covers the recovery of stolen vehicles. Officers checked and seized 52 uninsured vehicles under Section 165a of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and another five for being driven in an anti-social matter.
Supt Melita Worswick, Operations Manager at Lancashire Police, said: "Over the last few weeks proactive work from officers has resulted in a number of police pursuits, resulting in stolen vehicles being returned to owners, offenders arrested and equipment potentially planned to be used to commit crime being seized. This has no doubt prevented a number of people from becoming a victim of crime.
"We know many drivers have concerns about those using the road network to break the law and these results show we have taken robust action. Our message is clear; if you use our roads illegally or to commit crimes, you can expect a swift and firm police response."
