Two teenagers have been charged after a stolen BMW sparked a dramatic police pursuit before being abandoned and recovered.
The BMW was stolen from Kirkham town centre last month and was later involved in a high-risk police chase before those inside fled, leaving the vehicle behind. Officers were able to return the car to its owner.
But the investigation didn’t end there.
Detectives from Fylde Rural Task Force trawled through CCTV footage and identified the suspected driver. Working alongside Lancashire Police Specialist Operations officers, they quickly tracked him down and arrested him.
As enquiries continued, police uncovered several Snapchat and TikTok videos allegedly showing the stolen BMW being driven while an unidentified passenger waved a large machete from inside the vehicle.
Further investigations led officers to identify the second teenager, who was also interviewed over a number of alleged offences.
A 16-year-old boy from Blackpool has now been charged with theft of a motor vehicle, driving while disqualified, using a vehicle without insurance and breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order. He has been remanded in custody.
A second 16-year-old boy from Poulton has been charged with possession of a bladed article in a public place and being carried in a stolen vehicle.
Police say the investigation highlights how CCTV work, specialist officers and social media evidence all played a key role in bringing those allegedly involved before the courts.
