A WOMAN has been arrested after a car - which was stolen from a pregnant woman by machete-wielding men - crashed near Crestwood School in Kingswinford.

Witnesses reported seeing armed police, dog units and the force helicopter when the black Ford Focus ST crashed into a parked car on Bromley Lane.

It happened near the school gates, at around 9pm last night (Monday June 12).

Dudley News: The stolen car crashed into a parked car on Bromley Lane The stolen car crashed into a parked car on Bromley Lane (Image: Caitlin Arthurs)

A 23-year-old woman, the passenger in the car, was arrested but the driver escaped. The woman is in police custody today.

The car was stolen from estate agent Stan Heeks' pregnant wife Sammie, who is in her 30s, on Whittington Hall Lane, while she was on a dog walk at Bunkers Hill wood by two balaclava-wearing machete-wielding men at 7am yesterday.

They held a machete to her face and demanded her car keys.

South Staffordshire Police have released an appeal for information after the "distressing incident."

They said the car was spotted at Merry Hill at around 8.30pm.

Mr Heeks, who is branch manager of RE/MAX Prime Estates in Stourbridge, said on social media today: "The car was crashed into Crestwood school gates during a chase by armed responders and the passenger is now in custody.

"The driver made off on foot.

"The helicopter was in the air and the dogs were out looking for him at the point of the last update I had.

"We have been to Russells Hall hospital and the baby is fine, heartbeat was nice and strong which was a huge relief."

 

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: "We are appealing for information after a woman’s car was robbed at knifepoint.

"We were called to Whittington Hall Lane, Kinver, just before 7.20am yesterday.

"The victim, a woman in her 30s, was approached by two people before being threatened at knifepoint.

"The suspects then took her car keys and drove away in the black Ford Focus, leaving the woman shaken but not injured.

"One of the suspects was seen wearing navy blue clothing and a black balaclava and another was seen wearing a navy blue, old school Nike track suit and navy blue balaclava.

"The car was seen at Merry Hill, Dudley, around 8.30pm yesterday and recovered a short time later.

"The driver failed to stop and crashed into a car on Bromley Lane.

Dudley News: The parked car was smashed up and a wheel came off The parked car was smashed up and a wheel came off (Image: Caitlin Arthurs)

"A 23-year-old woman, who was a passenger in the car, was arrested and remains in custody for questioning."

Sergeant Adam Aldred, of CID South, said: “This was a very distressing incident for the victim and we are keen to speak to anyone who may have been in the area or those who may have CCTV or dashcam footage that could help with our investigation.

“Visible patrols in the area have been increased and officers are continuing with their inquiries to identify those responsible.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101, quoting incident number 116 of 12 June.