‘I used to work for Barrett, but this is more fun’ – the crew of our local police helicopter, from the West Midlands Police Flickr photo stream.

Along with the rest of the town, I noticed the West Midlands Police helicopter hovering over Brownhills late this afternoon (Staurday, 25th August, 2012). Out and about at the time, as I rounded the bend in the canal, I happened upon two coppers on Catshill Junction who told me they were looking for a burglary suspect – a grey haired man on a silver bike.

Top tweeting copper, PC Richard Stanley, tweeted this later in the afternoon:

http://twitter.com/PCStanleyWMP/status/239415710940532736

For incidents like this, it’s always worth following the West Midland Police helicopter crew on Twatter:

1700 Handsworth. Support officers with pre planned operation……onto Brownhills for an offender search.

— NPAS Midlands (Central Region) (@NPASMidlands) August 25, 2012

So, if you were out and about around Brownhills at around 5pm on Saturday afternoon, and saw a guy of that description, please do shout up…

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Walsall Police by dialling 101 or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.