A 23-year-old man has been arrested after a van allegedly taken from a property in Swanscombe was driven towards London and brought to a halt following a police chase.
Kent Police said the vehicle was reported missing after a window was smashed at an address in the town at about 2.55pm on Sunday, 30 August. The owner of the property was known to the man, the force added.
Officers found the van in the London Road area of Swanley at about 6.45pm, but it failed to stop and continued towards the capital.
The pursuit ended in Bromley when Metropolitan Police officers made tactical contact with the vehicle on Mottingham Road. The manoeuvre is used by specially trained officers to bring a fleeing vehicle to a controlled stop.
Images from the scene showed the van suspended in the air amid broken glass after the collision. At least eight police vehicles were reported to have attended the incident.
Witnesses said the van had been seen travelling on the wrong side of the road in Swanley before the crash. One person told the News Shopper: “It sounded like an air raid was about to kick off. Never seen so many police cars before.”
The driver, who is from Swanley, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking, criminal damage, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and failing to stop for police.
He remained in custody on Monday as enquiries continued. A Metropolitan Police officer suffered an injury to his hand during the incident and was taken to hospital before being discharged.
No other serious injuries were reported.
