A white Peugeot Boxer van carrying an assortment of valuable stolen tools and equipment was intercepted following a dramatic police chase near Glastonbury last week. The incident unfolded in the early hours of Thursday, May 29, when officers in Street grew suspicious of the vehicle’s mismatched license plate and trailer.
PC Carter, a trained pursuit driver, joined the pursuit on the outskirts of town as backup units arrived. After the van momentarily stopped, its driver reversed aggressively, ramming a marked police car and causing significant front-end damage. The chase continued at high speed around Street and later towards Somerton.
During the pursuit, the van narrowly avoided collisions with two police traffic cars en route to assist. Ultimately, the vehicle crashed into a wall in Somerton, and the driver fled on foot into the darkness. Police are actively working to identify and locate the individual.
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Inside the van, officers recovered a variety of stolen items, including chainsaws, generators, and other high-value tools. These items have since been returned to their rightful owners, who expressed gratitude for their swift recovery.
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson confirmed, “The trailer attached to the van was stolen, and the van contained stolen property of high value. Both victims were reunited with their items within hours and were very appreciative.”
Authorities urge anyone with information about the driver, their whereabouts, or dashcam footage of the incident to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 5225149085.