Car theft leads police to cannabis haul in Tipton

More than 350 plants were found in a shed – as well as 27 bags of cannabis being carried by a woman fleeing the scene – when police were trying to recover more than 100 parcels taken in the car. Officers said they were "over the moon" with the discovery. The plants had a street value of £122,000 and the 27 bags of cannabis were worth £4,000.

Police were initially called to investigate a car theft on Central Avenue, where a woman delivering parcels from boutique French catalogue Hermes had left her keys in her vehicle.

A company tracking device in the car led officers to Dick Sheppard Avenue where the car was found at around 2.20pm on Thursday – just one hour and 20 minutes after the theft.

While returning to the police station an anonymous witness tipped off police as to the thief's whereabouts on Coronation Road and upon attending the scene a woman was fleeing with a bag full of cannabis.

Police also found a 16-year-old boy at the house in breach of an ASBO, as well as around 100 stolen parcels, two off-road motorbikes which are believed to have been stolen, the keys to the Vauxhall Vectra and the cannabis shed.

Sergeant Steph Court said if they had attended a day later the parcels – which contained earrings, shoes, coats and cameras – would have been moved.

"We're over the moon. The 16-year-old had been arrested three times for breaches of his ASBO and we've taken a lot of drugs off the streets of Tipton.

"It was quite an unexpected discovery and if we'd gone much later then the parcels would have gone. It was perfect timing and we caught them red-handed."

A 39-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and cultivation of cannabis, while a 32-year-old female was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply. The teenager was charged with breaching an ASBO which excluded him from being in that area.