Stolen pick-up with Ballymena plates and drink-drive arrest among incidents in busy PSNI shift
Friday 30 October 2026
A stolen pick-up truck displaying registration plates taken from a vehicle in the Ballymena area was intercepted by police in Belfast during a busy shift that also saw a second driver arrested following an alleged hit-and-run incident in Lisburn.
The PSNI’s Road Policing Intercept Team, based at Sprucefield, revealed details of three incidents on Wednesday 21 October, involving suspected vehicle theft, stolen number plates, alleged drink-driving and a further deployment to Maghera.
Two drivers were arrested during separate operations, with officers using coordinated tactics to stop both vehicles.
Stolen vehicle traced to Letterkenny
The first operation involved a white Volkswagen Amarok which police believed had been connected to a number of offences across Northern Ireland on 20 and 21 October.
Officers investigating the vehicle established that it was displaying stolen registration plates belonging to another vehicle from the Ballymena area.
The discovery prompted a coordinated operation involving the Incident Coordination Centre, Auto Crime Team, Armed Response Unit, Air Support Unit and road policing officers from Sprucefield and Steeple.
Using what police described as pre-emptive tactics, officers successfully stopped the Amarok in Belfast and detained its male driver.
Driver arrested on six suspected offences
The man was subsequently arrested on suspicion of:
• Driving whilst disqualified
• Driving without insurance
• Handling stolen goods
• Possession of an offensive weapon
• Theft (two suspected offences)
Further enquiries revealed that the Amarok itself had been stolen from Letterkenny in County Donegal.
The operation therefore involved a vehicle reported stolen in the Republic of Ireland and registration plates linked to the Ballymena area, before officers brought the vehicle to a stop in Belfast.
Hit-and-run investigation leads to second arrest
The white Nissan vehicle that police identified as being involved in a hit-and-run incident in County Antrim.
Shortly after the first operation, Sprucefield interceptors were called to assist officers from Lisburn Local Policing Team following a reported hit-and-run incident.
Police said a person had reportedly been dragged onto the bonnet of a white Nissan vehicle during the incident in Lisburn.
Officers subsequently located the vehicle on the Lisburn Road, travelling towards Belfast, and used pre-emptive tactics to bring it to a stop.
The driver underwent a roadside preliminary breath test, which returned a positive result.
The driver was arrested on suspicion of:
• Driving with excess alcohol
• Failing to stop, remain and report following a collision
• Common assault
• Criminal damage
Police have not provided further information about the condition of the person reportedly dragged onto the bonnet or the circumstances surrounding the alleged collision.
Final call takes officers to Maghera
The team's shift was still not over after the two arrests.
With approximately 30 minutes remaining, officers were tasked to travel to the Maghera area to provide tactical support during a separate ongoing incident.
The PSNI did not disclose the nature of that incident or whether any further arrests were made.
Reflecting on the day's operations, the Road Policing Intercept Team highlighted the cooperation between specialist units and local policing teams across different districts.
Officers thanked colleagues who assisted throughout the shift, concluding their account with the message:
“Different teams. One common goal – keeping our roads and communities safe.”
The incidents highlight how vehicle crime and dangerous driving investigations can extend across several policing districts, requiring specialist teams to work together. The PSNI has not confirmed whether either arrested driver has subsequently been charged, and the allegations remain under investigation.
