TWO people were arrested after officers recovered a stolen digger within 20 minutes of it being taken.

A report was made to shortly after 7.50pm last night, Friday 11 October, after the digger was stolen from Torkildsen Way, in Harlow.

A number of men were reported to be involved, all wearing high-visibility jackets. 

Response officers made an assessment of the situation and were able to get behind a low-loader carrying the stolen vehicle. 

The vehicle then stopped on the London-bound A10 and those inside stopped the vehicle and tried to run. 

But officers were able to catch up and make arrests just before 8.10pm.

Two men, aged 49 and 43 and both from Hertfordshire, were arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle. The 43-year-old is also being questioned on suspicion of driving without insurance and driving whilst disqualified.

Both remain in custody. 

Detective chief inspector Alan Blakesley said: “The speed at which officers reacted to this reporting coming into us from a very vigilant member of the public should not be underestimated. 

“I would like to thank the person who bravely alerted us to this incident, which ensured the officers attending it had all the information they required and in a very short time, they assessed the options available to them, with the possibility of the vehicle failing to stop or people becoming injured. 

“Thankfully, neither came close to taking place and the incident was brought to very safe conclusion, very quickly.”