A 33-year-old man has been charged with theft from a store and theft from cars after a suspect was arrested by patrol officers.

Sam Wood was charged on Saturday after he was arrested in the Arboretum in Worcester on Friday. Large numbers of police were deployed to the area.

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He appeared before magistrates in Kidderminster on Saturday. 

We have previously reported how patrol officers made an arrest at the back of a property in Flag Meadow Walk.

West Mercia Police received reports of suspicious activity, including a man trying car door handles.

Officers were searching back streets and gardens before locating - and arresting - a suspect.

Witnesses said officers were searching for a man dressed in black with a black backpack.

Officers confirmed the backpack and a hat had been recovered before they made the arrest.

Mum-of-two Catherine Mulvey, 39, of Worcester said: "As I was driving my daughter to school about four police officers came running down Lansdowne Street.

"They were clearly looking for someone and were shouting and pointing - it was quite concerning as at that time of the morning there were lots of children around.

"I noticed there was another couple of officers down a side street near Somerset Place.

"But they were clearly waiting for someone.

"A police officer spoke to me and asked if I had seen a man dressed in all black with a black bag which I hadn't.

"When I left, there was a police van and several cars parked near to The Chestnut pub.

"I drove past more officers including plain clothes in Flag Meadow Walk who were outside a house and seemed to be looking into a garden.

"There were at least four police cars and a police van in the area."

DI Dave Knight of South Worcestershire Proactive CID, part of West Mercia Police, said: "We had a call from a member of the public reporting suspicious behaviour, someone trying car door handles."

Reports can be made to West Mercia via 101. In the event of a crime in progress, members of the public are advised to call 999.