THREE suspected burglars sparked a police pursuit after one tried to escape in a taxi.

Officers began following the group when they spotted a suspicious looking car in Benfleet and followed it to a block of flats, in Kents Hill Road North.

When police tried to arrest the trio, at the junction of London Road and Kents Hill Road North, at about 2pm on Tuesday, two of them jumped in a stolen car and the third hailed a taxi and headed towards Rayleigh.

Essex Police’s helicopter was scrambled and followed the taxi, while four police cars gave chase on the roads.

An eyewitness, who did not want to be named, said: “There were police everywhere.

“Benfleet was swarming with them.

“It’s not very often you see this much police activity here.

“My first thought was this must be something serious, because there wouldn’t be this many officers around for a robbery or burglary.”

When officers closed in on the taxi in Lancaster Road, Rayleigh, the suspect leapt out of the car and tried to escape on foot, but police tackled him and placed him under arrest.

Meanwhile, officers arrested a man and woman in London Road, close to the scene of the incident.

A 25-year-old man, from Leigh, was arrested on suspicion of burglary. A 27-year-old woman, from Billericay, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary and a 31-year-old man, from Benfleet, was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and possession of a class B drug.

Last night they were all being questioned by detectives.