POLICE used drones and dogs to track down two burglary suspects after they fled a car after a police chase.

Essex Police received reports of burglaries in High Road, Benfleet, and High Road, Fobbing, within an hour of each other on Tuesday evening.

At about 7.15pm, officers in the force’s dog section spotted a white Audi driving with the boot partially open and attempted to stop the vehicle.

Dog handler Dan O’Connell said: “The car was wanted in connection with several burglaries and was found by us in South Ockendon.

“The car tried to flee and was stopped when we arrested two men – one detained by police dog Carter. The vehicle was stolen during a burglary in Kent.”

Two other suspects fled the scene and police enquiries revealed the Audi, which was abandoned in Chiltern Road, Sutton, was driving on cloned plates.

Police are now appealing for information about the burglaries and the vehicle which they believe may have been spotted driving suspiciously around south Essex.

A spokesman for the force said: “We are appealing for information about burglaries in Benfleet and Fobbing on Tuesday, August 13, which resulted in two arrests.

“At about 7.15pm that day, we then attempted to stop a white Audi A4 driving with partially open boot in North Stifford without success before the vehicle was abandoned in Chiltern Road.

“Following a search of the area using both drone and dog unit, we arrested two men on suspicion of burglary and theft of a vehicle.

“We believe the vehicle, which had cloned plates, was seen driving in Basildon, Southend, Hadleigh and Stanford-le-Hope earlier day.”

If you have information you feel could help the police investigation, call Grays CID on 101.

Alternatively, you can contact independent crimefighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also go online at crimestoppers-uk.org