A police helicopter was sent up to assist with searches in South Bristol last night (Monday, June 27). The aircraft was spotted circling in the vicinity of Ashton Vale between 9.30pm and 10pm.
Avon and Somerset Police has now confirmed that officers were deployed to reports of a stolen vehicle being spotted in the area. It was found abandoned and has been seized, but searches in the surrounding area did not result in any suspects being tracked down.
A force spokesperson said: "Officers were dispatched to south Bristol yesterday evening (Monday 27 June) following reports that a vehicle previously reported stolen was in the area.
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"They found the vehicle abandoned in the Ashton area. It has since been recovered. Searches of the surrounding area were carried out by officers, with support from the National Police Air Service, [but] proved to be negative."
Residents in the area took to Facebook to question the police presence, with one witness claiming to have seen "lots of police cars" chasing a van along Ashton Drive at about 9.30pm. Police did not specify where exactly the abandoned vehicle was found.
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