TWO suspected thieves tried to escape arrest by running away after being pursued by police.

Officers on patrol had spotted a van crossing the roundabout from Queens Road to Elphinstone Road in Hastings on Tuesday.

A vehicle check showed the van had no MOT and no insurance, but when police signalled for the van to pull over, the driver refused.

A short chase ensued before the van stopped in Henderson Close and two men got out and ran away.

Officers managed to detain one of the men nearby, but had to use a police dog and thermal imaging drone camera to catch the other.

The driver, a 38-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of driving while disqualified, failing to stop when required to do so by police and theft of a motor vehicle.

The other man, 33, was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.

Both men have been released on conditional bail until February 2 while enquiries continue.

They were also issued with Fixed Penalty Notices for being in breach of the government’s Covid-19 restrictions.