North Yorkshire Police Arrest Two Men in Pub Burglary Near RAF Leeming

On Monday evening, July 27, 2026, officers from North Yorkshire Police on a routine mobile patrol near RAF Leeming spotted a vehicle parked in suspicious circumstances near a viewing point close to the airbase. An initial inspection of the unlocked vehicle revealed tools including hammers, screwdrivers, part of a rip saw, and a bucket containing shoes and a saw.

Rather than approaching immediately, officers decided to watch the vehicle. When it drove off, they followed and stopped it near junction 50 of the A1(M). The driver and passenger, both men in their 20s from West Yorkshire, were searched along with the vehicle. During that search, officers discovered several new items that had not been present during the earlier inspection.

Further enquiries led police to a pub on Roman Road, near RAF Leeming, where they found evidence of a break-in — signs of forced entry and cash scattered on the floor. Both men were arrested on suspicion of burglary and remain in custody while the investigation continues. The vehicle and all recovered items have been seized.

Chief Inspector Tom Ibbetson of North Yorkshire Police praised the officers' actions: "These arrests demonstrate the value of our nightly proactive operational deployments across North Yorkshire. Officers were carrying out tasked patrol activity when they noticed something that did not look right. Their vigilance, professional curiosity and swift actions led to the identification of a suspected burglary and the arrest of two suspects within a short space of time."

This incident highlights the importance of proactive patrols in rural areas, where crimes like pub burglaries can have a significant impact on local communities. North Yorkshire Police's strategy of deploying officers on targeted patrols, especially at night, appears to be paying off in preventing and quickly responding to such incidents.

For residents and business owners in rural North Yorkshire, this case serves as a reminder of the value of community policing and the role that vigilant officers play in keeping their neighborhoods safe. The force's approach — combining routine patrols with professional curiosity — is a model that other rural police forces may look to emulate.