Man arrested following knifepoint carjacking

We have arrested a man after a car was stolen at knifepoint in Stafford.

We got a call at about 6.35pm last night (18 February) when a man robbed a Skoda Octavia after threatening the owner with a knife.  

Once it was reported to us, we started work immediately to track it down.

Our colleagues from the Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG) found it onto the M42. The suspect ditched it at Hopwood services, in Alvechurch, after colliding with another car. He tried to run away but didn’t get far.

Thankfully, no-one was injured in the collision.

A 44-year-old man, from Birmingham, was arrested on suspicion of robbery, failing to stop and dangerous driving.

He is being questioned in custody today (19 February).

We’re working hard to make Staffordshire a hostile place for thieves to offend. We have arrested more than 120 suspected vehicle thieves and charged more than 50 of them since we launched a crackdown in 2022.

Want to know more about what we’re doing to target vehicle thieves? Visit our website here: More than 120 arrests and 50 charged – here’s what we’re doing to tackle vehicle theft | Staffordshire Police