A rapid police response resulted in a suspect being arrested following the botched robbery of a van.
Police received a call from a driver to tell them their van had been stolen while they were doing a delivery.
A man described as drunk is alleged to have approached the deliveryman in Bramley Road, Broxtowe and demanded he handed his keys over.
This happened just after 4pm on Wednesday (29 May), with the suspect then taking the keys and getting into the driver’s seat.
They then reportedly spent the next few minutes unsuccessfully trying to start the van, which had a keyless ignition, and put it in gear.
After eventually giving up, the man got out of the van, with the keys still in his possession, and walked away towards Helston Drive.
By that stage, the victim of the robbery had already called the police, with officers arriving minutes later and carrying out a search of the area.
A man matching the description of the person involved was then located nearby in Colchester Road, where he was detained.
After being brought into custody, the suspect also completed a breathalyser test, which showed them as being over the alcohol limit.
The suspect – a 33-year-old man – was duly arrested on suspicion of robbery and drink-driving.
PC Maddie Hughes, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Thanks to the responding officers getting to the scene so quickly after this call came in, we were able to locate and arrest a suspect within a few minutes.
“While this robbery was ultimately unsuccessful, with the van and its contents not being stolen, it did follow a display of intimidating behaviour that left the victim feeling they had to hand their keys over.
“Robbery is an incredibly serious offence that can result in those targeted still feeling the aftereffects, whether physical or emotional, a long time afterwards.
“Fortunately, nobody was injured in this incident and nothing was taken, while we were also pleased to be able to make such a quick arrest.”
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