Police Helicopter Deployed to Track Suspect After Burslem Car Key Burglary

BURSLEM, Stoke-on-Trent — A police helicopter was scrambled as part of a major search operation following a burglary in Burslem where a vehicle was stolen using keys taken from a property.

Staffordshire Police launched the investigation on the evening of Monday, January 12, 2026, after receiving reports of a break-in at a residential property on Louise Street in Burslem. During the burglary, the offenders managed to locate and steal the keys to a Volvo estate car parked outside, subsequently driving off in the vehicle.

Helicopter Search and Police Pursuit

Following the theft, local officers spotted the stolen Volvo estate and attempted to intercept it. However, the driver refused to stop, initiating a brief police pursuit. In an effort to track the vehicle and locate the suspect, police requested aerial support from the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter, which circled the Burslem and surrounding Stoke-on-Trent areas.

Despite the coordinated search efforts on the ground and in the air, officers temporarily lost sight of the Volvo. The suspect managed to abandon the vehicle or evade the immediate dragnet, and no arrests have been made at this stage. Police are continuing to follow active lines of inquiry to identify the driver and any accomplices involved in the break-in.

Information Requested

Staffordshire Police are appealing for public assistance in the investigation. Homeowners in the Louise Street area with CCTV or doorbell camera footage, or motorists who may have dashcam footage of the Volvo estate on the evening of January 12, are encouraged to contact Staffordshire Police on 101 or via the social media channels, quoting the incident details from Louise Street.