A teenager has been arrested after a car was stolen from a Harrogate home.

North Yorkshire Police today (July 15) said residents at a property north of Harrogate yesterday realised a set of keys had gone missing from their home.

They then noticed their car, which had been parked outside the home, was gone.

The residents reported the suspected theft to the force and details of the stolen car were circulated between officers on patrol in the area.

Today’s statement said the stolen car was spotted on Butterbur Way, in the Jennyfields area, at around 8.25pm after it had crashed into a parked car.

Police arrived at the scene and gathered witness information from members of the public.

A teenage suspect was located nearby, police said, adding he was then arrested on suspicion of burglary, driving without a licence and insurance.

A roadside drug test gave a positive reading for cannabis, so the teen was also arrested of suspicion of drug-driving.

The suspect remains in custody at the time of writing.

Police advice

North Yorkshire Police also outlined some ways in which two-in-one burglaries – when offenders break into a home to find car keys before stealing a vehicle from outside the property – can be prevented.

They are listed below:

• Consider installing CCTV to cover your property and put up a sign to declare that you have CCTV for your neighbours and potential intruders to see.

• Fit outside security lighting to the front and back of your home and install a visible intruder alarm.

• Use your garage – if you have a garage or outbuilding, please use it and lock your car away when not in use.

• If you don’t have a garage, consider fitting sturdy and lockable gates or a security post to your driveway.

• Fit a high-quality alarm, immobiliser or tracking device to your car if finances allow and make sure you know how to operate it. Alternatively, cheaper tracking devices such as an Apple AirTag can be hidden somewhere in your car and can prove just as useful.

• Consider using a device such as a visible steering or wheel lock.

• Always lock your car and make sure doors, windows, the boot, and sunroof are secure whenever you leave your vehicle.

• Always make sure the windows and doors to your house are locked.

• If you own more than one vehicle, park the lesser valued vehicle behind the more expensive one on the driveway, making it more difficult to remove.

• Don’t leave your car keys on view or placed near windows, doors or cat-flaps where thieves can see them.

• If you have a wireless key, ensure you keep it in a radio frequency deterrent box.