A 31-year-old man has been arrested following a string of attempted burglaries and car thefts in Co Antrim.
Police said shortly after midnight yesterday morning a resident in Forthill Gardens in Newtownabbey reported that an unknown man was in his home but fled after seeing him.
A short time later police said a man entered a property on Doagh Road and removed car keys.
"He then attempted to take the vehicle from the driveway but was prevented from doing so by the resident, a woman in her 70s, who got into the passenger seat. The male then abandoned the vehicle and made off on foot.
"At around 1.30am police received a further report from a resident in Church Terrace," a police spokesman said.
"A short time earlier he had disturbed an unknown man in his kitchen. The intruder had taken car keys from the property and attempted to take the vehicle, however when confronted by the homeowner, the male threw the keys and ran."
A suspect was subsequently arrested by a police patrol on the Twinburn Road and is currently in custody.
Meanwhile, a 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of a number of robbery offences following a PSNI operation in Carrickfergus.
The operation took place on Saturday night in connection with an armed robbery at a shop in Glynn on Christmas Eve, an armed robbery at shop in Ballynure on Boxing Day, and another at a shop in Oakpland Park in Carrick on December 28.
The man is currently in police custody.
Elsewhere, detectives are appealing for information following five burglaries in the Newry, Mourne and Down area earlier this week.
Police said homes in Warrenpoint, Rostrevor, Kilkeel and Mayobridge were targeted by thieves on December 28.
