A THIEF who bolted from the scene when he saw police officers approaching was being hunted today.

Officers swooped on Ramsbury Drive, Earley, in the early hours of the morning following reports of two suspicious men peeping into residents' cars and homes.

When they arrived at the scene, shortly before 2.30am, they managed to stop one man and arrest him on the spot.

However, another man, described as black and wearing dark clothing, fled.

Officers then carried out a search to try and track him down but the man escaped.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "At 2.25am on Friday 14 July, police were called to Ramsbury Drive in Reading following a report of two suspicious men looking into cars and houses.

"Officers attended the scene and one man was arrested.

"One offender, a black man who was wearing dark clothing and a hoodie, managed to escape from the scene."

Police managed to recover a number of items at the scene. One of the items was identified as being from an offence committed on Eastern Avenue.

However, they also found a pair of designer sun glasses and a silver iPod. The owners have not yet come forward.

Investigating officer, police sergeant Sarah Rose from Loddon Valley police station, said: "I would like to speak with anyone who can provide further information in relation to this incident.

"I am also seeking anyone in the local area that may have been the victim of a burglary around this time, but have not yet reported it to the police."