POLICE scrambled its helicopter to catch a trio officers suspected of being involved in thefts of mobile phones in Essex.

It landed near the railway station at Thorpe Le Soken around 5pm yesterday after devices were earlier stolen from an o2 store in Pier Avenue, Clacton-on-Sea.

Three men from Hampshire, aged 22, 23 and 24, are currently in police custody on suspicion of theft.

Essex Police were unable to say how many mobile phones were recovered.