THREE people were arrested after police stopped a suspicious vehicle in Gillingham.

Officers from Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team stopped the vehicle, travelling from the North Dorset area into Somerset, on Wednesday evening (April 10) following a report of “suspicious circumstances”.

“From searching the vehicle, officers located and seized cloned number plates, 18 tools suspected to be used for thefts, and five weapons consisting of axes, hammers, and a knife,” a police spokesperson said.

Three men were arrested on suspicion of going equipped for theft, and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. One vehicle was seized as used in crime.

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“With assistance from Avon and Somerset, and Wiltshire Police, further searches conducted at addresses linked to the detainees led to the recovery of suspected stolen items from industrial sites,” the spokesperson added.

The investigation is continuing.