Stolen BMW found on Northampton driveway a mile-and-a-half away from where it was taken

Police discovered a stolen BMW parked on a Northampton driveway about a mile-and-a-half away from where it was taken.

Officers from the Northampton Response Team tracked the vehicle down after it was taken from Birchfield Road East, Boothville, at around 3.40pm on Tuesday (March 15).

Officers searched areas near the X5's its last ANPR hits and less than seven hours later it was being recovered from Swain Close in nearby Lumbertubs.

ANPR — automatic number plate recognition — systems use fixed cameras and some mounted on police vehicles to read vehicle plates and instantly check database records to see if they could be stolen or of interest.

Chief Constable Nick Adderley and Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold announced a £1.3million investment in expanding the network of cameras across Northamptonshire to boost the Force's crime-fighting resources.

Last month, ANPR was used to make 62 arrests and identify 183 traffic offences, and led to 101 vehicles being seized for a variety of offences.

DCI Steve Watkins said: "Our enhanced ANPR system is delivering real results, denying criminals use of the roads and keeping the public safe through cutting-edge, intelligence-led policing."

Message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive.

We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you