A POLICE helicopter helped Bishop’s Stortford officers investigate two unrelated crimes last Friday afternoon at around 1.30pm reports the Stortford Independent.

The chopper was called to help trace a suspected vehicle thief. Officers tried to stop the driver in Fuller Court, off Stansted Road. He got out of the vehicle, a white Ford Transit van, and fled.

Minutes later, a witness saw three people remove lead from the roof of the old Red Cow pub in Dunmow Road.

Police found the trio with a pile of lead in their van. Officers in the helicopter confirmed that lead was missing from the roof.

The suspects told officers that a letting agent had given them permission to take the metal from the roof. Officers contacted the letting agent, who said that this was a lie.

Two men and a woman were arrested on suspicion of theft.

*A 30 year old woman from Harlow who was arrested on suspicion of theft has been released without charge.

*Daniel Hampton, 29 of Waterhouse Moor, Harlow and John Underwood, 40 of Pennymead, Harlow have both been charged with theft. They have been bailed and will appear at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, May 29.