Quick reactions from police bring a halt to burglary and recover equipment worth hundreds of thousands of pounds

Police officers have been praised for their swift action after they stopped a burglary while it was in progress at a location affiliated to the Olympic Games – and ensured the safe return of £200,000 worth of stolen property.

The City of London officers were alerted to suspicious activity at a building being used by the French Olympic Committee during the sporting showcase.

Three minutes after arriving at the location in the Lower Thames Street area, they arrested three men on suspicion of burglary and recovered video recording equipment worth £200,000.

The three men, named as Mouhamed Elhachloifi (21), Jamie Charles Hull (18), and a 17-year-old who cannot be identified for legal reasons, have all since pleaded guilty to burglary.

They will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court in September, the force said.