CAR thieves tried to flee police after they were randomly stopped in a stolen car.
Officers from Cheshire Police were carrying out stop checks on cars on the A557 in Widnes on Thursday morning.
At 9.39am a driver failed to stop leading to a police search for the car.
Police say the helicopter was then launched over Warrington to look for the suspects.
Residents reported seeing it in Birchwood and Woolston.
The car was later found abandoned in Reay Street in Widnes.
Officers then arrested a 34-year-old man from Murdishaw in an alleyway near Barnes Road on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.
He has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.
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