A local neighbourhood policing team has praised young people in North Swindon for helping them track down stolen property and even spot a shoplifter hiding from their officers in a bush. 

The Swindon North, East and Rural neighbourhood policing team posted on social media to thank youths for their help, highlighting that teenagers are usually stereotyped as badly behaved and reminding people it is the minority, not the majority.  

The post read: “We have an important message for the groups of youths and children who have been hanging about North Swindon this week ‘THANK-YOU!’

“We are grateful for your help tracking down a stolen bike and returning it to the owner.

“We are thankful to the GWA pupils who found valuable lost property and walked all the way to our police point to hand it in.

“And we are proud of the young people who spotted a shoplifter hiding in bushes at the Orbital and let officers know.

“We hear a lot about how ‘bad’ our teenagers are, but the vast majority are great kids with strong sense of right and wrong. We hope you all have a great summer break.”