Man arrested after police chase stolen car with elderly woman still inside
The car was taken in Tameside with an 89-year-old woman in the car
Last updated 7th Jan 2024
Greater Manchester Police have arrested a man after he took off in a suspected stolen vehicle whilst an elderly woman was still inside the car.
The incident took place in the early hours of Saturday afternoon (January 6th), near the Market Hall in the Tameside town of Ashton-under-Lyne.
Officers first received calls about the car being stolen at 1pm on Saturday, after a woman had left her 89-year-old mother sat in the front passenger seat.
The owner of the car had left the engine on as a way to keep her mother warm during the cold snap, but was commandeered by the man.
As he entered the car, he drove the vehicle away with the elderly passenger still in the front seat.
Quick to act, officers soon gave chase to the car who began to follow the car. The force's Road Policing Unit continued to pursue the car for some time before being able to bring the chase to a safe end.
No damage was done to the vehicle and the woman was not injured in any way, and was safely reunited with her daughter soon after the police seized the vehicle.
A 50-year-old man was detained by officers and arrested on suspicion of kidnap, theft of a motor vehicle and dangerous driving. He currently remains in police custody as officers piece the incident together.
Speaking about the incident, Greater Manchester Police's Specialist Operation officer Chief Inspector Matt Jackson commended the force for working together.
"This shows great work by the team in what could have been a really dangerous incident which was managed well by the officers to ensure the vehicle was brought to a stop safely. I am pleased to hear that the elderly woman was safely reunited with her daughter, it must have been really terrifying for her to have been the passenger whilst the car was driven off by a stranger," he said.
“Our officers worked hard to follow the vehicle before engaging in a pursuit to safely bring the vehicle to a stop and make the arrest. From identifying the stolen vehicle to arresting the suspects, our officers are highly skilled and dedicated individuals, and this arrest goes to show how much work goes into these operations across the force."
Jackson added that the force will do what it can to quash similar behaviour and that the police's ability to work together will be used to catch as many suspects and keep the streets as safe as possible.