POLICE have recovered a car stolen in a burglary where raiders broke into a house while a man was working.

Stephen Le-Gate arrived home to find his Ford Fiesta missing from outside his in Cedars Road, Colchester, on Wednesday.

It emerged that crooks had sneaked into the house and grabbed the car keys before fleeing at some point in the afternoon.

Mr Le-Gates’s housemate was working from home at the time, and it is believed the raider heard him and grabbed what he could before fleeing.

It is thought the car was then driven towards Clacton, and officers sprung into action on Saturday after the registration plate triggered ANPR technology.

Units managed to box the Fiesta in and three people were arrested.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We have arrested two men and a teenage boy after a car was stolen during a burglary in Colchester.

“We received reports at about 12.40am on Thursday that a car had been stolen from a property in Cedars Road.

“The caller believed that the car had been stolen on Wednesday and we started making our inquiries.

“Our officers arrested two 18-year-old men from Holland-on-Sea and Clacton and a 17-year-old boy from Clacton on suspicion of burglary and theft of a car on Saturday.

“They remain under investigation.

“The victim reported that keys were placed on a table close to the front door and we would urge people to keep their possessions away from letterboxes and to place them securely in other rooms.

“Anyone with information is asked to call Colchester CID on 101 quoting crime reference 42/148919/20 or please visit essex.police.uk to report info online.

“You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Mr Le-Gate added: “We have had a call and the car has been found in Clacton.

“We are not sure on the condition yet as it is going through forensics, but are so happy they have found it.”