A man has been charged with conspiracy to steal motor vehicles and possession of a knife after a Mercedes was stolen in Harpenden.

Joh-Kiel Belton-McKenzie, was arrested 13 minutes after a Mercedes C63 AMG was stolen without keys from an address in Wood End Lane at 3.47am on September 25.

He has been charged with conspiracy to steal motor vehicles between August 30 and September 25 and possession of a bladed article.

A 17-year-old boy from London was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to steal motor vehicles between August 30 and September 25 and has been released on police bail whilst enquiries continue.

Belton-McKenzie is set to appear at St Albans Crown Court on October 24.

As well as the stolen Mercedes, police also recovered a stolen BMW from Hurst Road i Reading.