They were alerted by a member of the public who spotted three men trying to break into a garage at a home in the village of Childs Ercall between 11pm and midnight.
A white Astra van was also seen driving away from near the scene. Within 30 minutes, the vehicle was seen by patrolling police officers in the Trench Lock area of Telford.
It was stopped and its three occupants arrested. Various items of equipment and some property believed to be stolen, were also seized.
The three men, all in their twenties, were taken into custody at Shrewsbury police station for questioning on suspicion of burglary and going equipped to commit crime.
A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: “The arrests were made possible by a vigilant member of the public who was suspicious and immediately called the police.
“Having been alerted, officers on routine patrol across Shropshire throughout the night, were informed and the suspect vehicle was quickly located.
“This incident demonstrates the important role the public can play in assisting the police. We urge people to call us on the non-emergency number 101, or 999 if they spot a crime in progress, so we can respond without delay.”
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