POLICE have explained their presence on a street yesterday evening.

Star readers reported spotting police vehicles attending the area of Greenfield Road, in Dentons Green at around 5.20pm on Tuesday, November 28.

Several cars were seen in the area, close to Bishop Road, and residents reported seeing a foot chase by officers and a suspect being handcuffed.

When asked about the incident, a Merseyside Police spokesman said that this was in relation to a reported theft at Sports Direct, on King Street, in the town centre, which had taken place a short time earlier.

St Helens Star: A theft was reported at Sports Direct in King StreetA theft was reported at Sports Direct in King Street (Image: Google Street View)

A 30-year-old man from Salford was arrested on suspicion of offences including driving whilst disqualified; going equipped for theft; threatening behaviour, and theft.

A Merseyside Police spokesman said: "A man has been arrested after a reported theft in St Helens yesterday, Tuesday, November 28.

"At around 5pm it was reported that a man had stolen a number of items from Sports Direct on King Street.

"Officers attended and a suspect was arrested nearby."

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He added: "A 30-year-old man from Salford has been arrested on suspicion of driving whilst disqualified, going equipped for theft, theft from a shop, using a motor vehicle on a road without third party insurance and using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour with intent to cause fear.

"He remains in police custody.

"If you have any information about this incident, you can call 101 or DM @MerPolCC on Twitter or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook, quoting reference number 23001201039."