FOUR men have been arrested over an incident where cigarettes were stolen from a Tesco store on Sunday.

Police were called to the supermarket just after 9.50pm after 999 calls were made saying a group of men had stolen cigarettes from the shop.

Officers then followed two vans along the A12 before stopping both of them and making the arrests.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Police were called at 9.52pm on Sunday, October 21 following reports cigarettes had been stolen from the Tesco store at London Road.

“Two vans were later followed on the A12 by police units and one was stopped at Boreham and one man was arrested.

“The second van continued into Brentwood then back on to the A12 where it was stopped at Colchester Road, Harold Wood after colliding with several police vehicles. Three people were arrested.”

A 26-year-old man, of no fixed address, was arrested on suspicion of burglary, aggravated vehicle taking and failing to stop for police.

A 24-year-old man from east London was arrested on suspicion of theft and dangerous driving.

Two others, a 23-year-old man of no fixed address and a 20-year-old man from Chelmsford, have both been arrested on suspicion of burglary.

All four have remained in custody while enquiries continue.

A witness appeal is still open for information regarding the initial burglary or any motoring offences on the A12 and in the Brentwood and Harold Wood area.

Anyone with information is asked to call DS Mike Wilkinson at Basildon CID on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.