A police helicopter was seen circling around parts of Southend yesterday evening. 

Officers have now revealed the aircraft was assisting the search for a stolen car. 

The vehicle, a silver Audi, had recently been reported missing from Southend and police used tracking technology to locate it. 

They eventually found the stolen car in Shoebury and it will now be returned to its rightful owner.

Southend police said: "Good work from roads policing nit and the police helicopter yesterday in locating a recently stolen Audi fitted with a tracker stolen from Southend the day before.

"Vehicle was located in Shoebury and recovered and will be reunited with the owner."

Eyewitnesses said they had seen the helicopter circling for a long period of time. 

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact police on 101 and quote incident number 1188 of March 15.

Police have been using tracking technology to trace stolen vehicles, and uncovered three vehicles stahsed inside shipping containers in south Essex earlier this week.

The cars, which were described as 'high-value', have all been returned to their owners. 

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