Police swooped just outside Brighton to arrest five men suspected of preparing to carry out a jewel heist.
Officers arrested the man in a lay-by at Pyecombe on the A23 at about 6pm yesterday.
They were alerted by a 45-year-old jeweller who became suspicious of a car he had spotted following him down the motorways to Sussex from Birmingham.
The jeweller, who lives in Sussex, rang the owner of the shop in which he works from his car as he passed Gatwick.
The jewellery shop owner called Sussex Police and within 15 minutes traffic officers had spotted both cars.
The suspects’ car – a black Renault Megane – was pulled over just north of Brighton where five men were arrested.
Sussex Police said: “There was no violence and no injuries or damage.
“Police seized a number of weapons, rubber gloves and a face mask from the Megane.
“The five occupants, aged 26, 27, 28, 29, and 43, all from Birmingham, were arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery.”
This afternoon all five were still in police custody.
