Four men appear in court for stealing gas canisters from hospitals after car recovered in North Yorkshire

The canisters were used to contain nitrous oxide, used by patients to manage pain, and were stolen from hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Bishop Auckland and Darlington early on Sunday, Durham Police said.

Police recovered a car in North Yorkshire and stopped a van in Lincolnshire and recovered the canisters.

Four men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary and appeared before Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

They were remanded into custody and will next appear at Teesside Crown Court on April 21.