A student police officer in North Hertfordshire has helped recover a vehicle which was stolen in Hitchin.

Police constable Paulina Hryszko, who has been in post for just four weeks, attended an address in Hitchin for an unrelated matter and, while there, came across somebody on the phone reporting the theft of a car.

PC Hryszko gave reassurance to the member of the public, spoke to the control room and took the initial crime report.

The officer carried out the investigation, placed stolen markers on the vehicle on the police national computer and liaised with the tracker company to locate it.

The car was found in Arlesey, where PC Hryszko met the recovery company, and the car was returned to its owner just over 24 hours after it was reported stolen.

PC Hryszko said: "I’ve enjoyed my start as a police officer in North Herts and was pleased to be able to help a member of the public who had their vehicle stolen.

"I was delighted to be involved in helping track it down and see it returned to them."