Thieves caught after police watch robbery live stream in Essex

Officers watched the CCTV footage live on their phones Credit: PA

A trio of thieves were caught red-handed in Southend after police used their phones to monitor CCTV cameras.

They stole a three-figure sum of cash from a man leaving a nightclub in the early hours of January 20th.

However, two officers nearby had been watching council CCTV footage live on their smartphones.

They responded, chased and arrested the three men less than a minute after the robbery.

Domamiche Scarlett and Akliff Ali pleaded guilty to burglary at Basildon Crown Court on April 13.

Ervin Balliu admitted robbery and being in possession of a knife in a public place.