The M1 between Watford and St Albans was shut due to a car thief threatening several drivers after his vehicle caught fire.

A manhunt involving the police helicopter and dog unit was launched at around 5.40pm yesterday (August 20) when a Ford Mondeo was stolen from Telford Road, London Colney.

It was driven to the A405 North Orbital Road, just before the M1, where it was abandoned after catching fire.

A man then reportedly left the vehicle and threatened several drivers before making off into undergrowth when officers arrived.

 

 

Officers shut the M1 between Watford and Hemel Hempstead for around an hour yesterday evening.Officers shut the M1 between Watford and Hemel Hempstead for around an hour yesterday evening. (Image: Cathy Payne) One driver claimed online that the suspect was "jumping in front of random cars trying to get in" after ditching his vehicle.

Multiple police officers and a dog unit searched the area with support from a helicopter but were unable to find the man.

Morgan Bowyer was travelling on the 724 bus along the A405 into Watford at around 6.45pm yesterday when he came across the chaos.

The 20-year-old from Hertford said he saw around 20 police cars around the junction to the M1 and the entrances to the Waterdale Recycling Centre in Garston were blocked off as officers searched nearby woodland.

A police helicopter was called out to assist the search after the suspect ditched his vehicle on the A405.A police helicopter was called out to assist the search after the suspect ditched his vehicle on the A405. (Image: Kerri Rose Cupit)

He said: “It was very surprising and when I saw how many police there were, I thought that it had to be serious. It installed a bit more fear in me.”

Morgan added that the stolen black Ford Mondeo's bumper looked damaged as though it had been "rammed" as his bus passed the scene.

The male suspect is described as being white, aged in his 20s, of slim build and was wearing a dark coloured hoodie and shorts.

Police confirmed he is still at large and enquiries are continuing to trace him.

Chief Inspector Martin Turpin said: “As we continue to investigate this incident we would like to hear from anyone who witnessed what happened or has captured dash cam footage.”

Any information can be reported on 101 or online at herts.police.uk/contact, quoting crime reference 41/69357/24.