LOCAL residents talked of their alarm following frenzied police activity in and above Torrisholme late last Saturday night.

The police used a helicopter to broadcast messages to the startled residents as officers searched for a man they wanted to arrest in connection with a vehicle theft.

Local resident Beverley Blackburn was returning to her home as police carried out the operation. She told of her shock as she saw at least four police cars rush past her home and heard the helicopter flying overhead.

She heard the helicopter pilots broadcast a description of a man wanted for the crime, along with instructions not to approach him.

She told the Citizen "It was very dramatic, their were police flying all over the place."

She added "When you hear things like "Don't approach him" it can be quite worrying, especially as we were coming back to an empty house. I found it very alarming."

Inspector Martin Duff, Duty Officer for the investigation, confirmed that the wanted man had been located and arrested, largely due to information from the public. He described the operation as "An excellent example of how the community can help police reduce crime here."

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