Eggborough and Whitley County Primary School was forced to close for two days following the theft which was uncovered thanks to a joint operation between North Yorkshire Police and their colleagues from West Yorkshire.

On Friday 9 December 2011, officers from both forces maintained regular radio contact as they patrolled the Whitley area in plain clothes in response to a recent rise in the number of shed burglaries and car break-ins.

At around 9pm PC Tony Morton and PC Dave Clark spotted a van parked at the top of Learning Lane with two men on board. As the officers drove down the lane they spotted another van parked next to the school wall with what appeared to be two pipes connecting the vehicle to the school's fuel tank.

As the officers took a closer look, the two men they had seen earlier approached them, unaware that they were policemen. After a short conversation the two men were arrested on suspicion of theft.

A few minutes later, a further suspect arrived in another vehicle and was also arrested on suspicion of being involved in the offence.

In the meantime, West Yorkshire Police's Air Support Unit spotted a further man on the A19, within minutes he had been arrested with the help of a tracker dog.

All the suspects' vehicles were seized by the police, as well as a large amount of cash.

PC Tony Morton, of Eggborough Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "This was an excellent example of partnership working in which both forces used their resources to detect criminals targeting our areas.

"We will not tolerate this type of criminal activity and we will continue to work together sharing our local intelligence and using whatever it takes to carry on catching criminals to put before the courts."

West Yorkshire Police were also pleased with the arrests and vowed to continue working with colleagues in North Yorkshire to cut cross-border crime.

Sgt Dan Tillett, of Pontefract & Knottingley Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "This is another great example of officers from neighbouring forces working together to tackle local problems. We recognise that criminals do not see borders or boundaries, therefore we adopt the same approach"

The suspects, a 51-year-old man from Goole, a 45-year-old man from Castleford, a 42-year-old man from Knottingley and a 41-year-old man from Doncaster, have all been released on police bail as enquiries continue.