THREE neighbours have told how they blocked a suspected gang of thieves from escaping in a car in Weymouth.

Andrew and Dawn Gill and animal care worker Darren Hunt used their own vehicles to pen in a car after spotting three men acting suspiciously at Wyke Regis.

Police arrested one man and retrieved stolen property at the scene in Pirates Lane and are still hunting two men who fled.

Mrs Gill, who lives with husband Andrew in Pirates Lane, said Mr Hunt called them to ask them to block off the lane to stop the men escaping before police arrived on Saturday morning.

She said: “When I asked them what they were doing, they said they were walking a dog.

“We had a call from Darren saying to block them off outside our house with the car so they couldn’t get out.

“We then called the police, who arrived and arrested one of the men but the other two had escaped.”

Mr Hunt and Mrs Gill said they believed the men had stolen electrical goods with them at the time.

Mr Hunt said: “I saw these men in the area last week and had called the police because I suspected they had broken into a nearby farm.

“I saw them pull two big black items, which turned out to be TVs, out of the hedgerows on Saturday and I called the police again.

“The men drove up the lane, but by this time Dawn and Andrew had blocked the road and said they lost the keys to their car and couldn’t move it.

“These men started reversing back down the lane and, when I spoke to them, they said they were looking for their dog.

“I tried to block them where they were so we could have a crystal clear shot of them on our CCTV cameras.”

One man stayed with the car while two others headed towards the beach.

Police have appealed for more information and witnesses to the incident.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “We received a call from a member of the public and attended the scene.

“Stolen property was recovered and a 29-year-old man was arrested.

“We are currently seeking two other men in connection with the incident.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Weymouth CID in confidence on 01305 222222.