Police appeal after Land Rover is driven at officers in Sutton-in-Craven (From Craven Herald)

Police appeal after Land Rover is driven at officers in Sutton-in-Craven

8:00am Friday 8th February 2013 in News

Police officers are trying to trace the occupants of a Land Rover who drove at them in a desperate bid to escape capture.

The Land Rover was in a convoy of three vehicles, spotted travelling through Sutton-in-Craven at 1.45am last Tuesday, January 29.

The officers were engaged on Operation Buckaroo, which is aimed at disrupting the activities of travelling criminals. They say the convoy was being led by a Ford Maverick 4WD, with an unlit quad bike in the middle and the black Land Rover Defender at the rear. They were heading towards The Ellers.

A police spokesman said: “The officers followed at a discreet distance awaiting further units when the quad bike turned down a track and the other two vehicles stopped in the road.

“The Land Rover reversed into the track and flashed the police vehicle to pass, forcing it to engage its blue lights which caused the Ford Maverick to make off towards Laycock where it was subsequently found abandoned.

“The Land Rover set off towards the police vehicle but a collision was narrowly avoided and the vehicle made off in the direction of Sutton and remains outstanding.

“The quad bike was abandoned at the scene and the rider is believed to have made off on foot towards Pole Road.”

Police say the Land Rover and quad bike had been stolen from a farm at Flasby, along with a Makita drill, AEG drill and Black & Decker hand tools in a tool box. The Ford Maverick was subsequently reported stolen from Braithwaite.

Police are trying to trace the occupants of all three vehicles and anyone with information is asked to contact DC Paul Smith at Skipton CID on 101.