Burglary victims were threatened with an imitation firearm.
Police were called to a burglary in progress at a property in Kings Croft, Southminster, yesterday, where burglars had stolen cash before leaving in a grey Ford Mondeo.
Officers including a dog unit and police helicopter tracked suspects to Pilgrims Hatch, near Brentwood, where firearms officers made three arrests at about 1.30pm the same day.
Ricky Cox, 22, unemployed, of Stuart Close, Pilgrims Hatch, James Hyde, 22, a labourer from Lancaster Close, Pilgrims Hatch, and Pio Evans, a 23-year-old gardener of Woodland Avenue, Hutton, were charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary.
They have been remanded in custody to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on Monday.
No-one at the burgled property was injured.
Anybody with any information about suspicious behaviour is urged to contact police on 101 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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