Police hail ‘brave’ men who caught van thief

A PROLIFIC offender was brought to justice in Doncaster and given a month-long prison sentence, thanks to the actions of two Neighbourhood Watch members.

The two men, who caught a van thief red-handed, have now been commended for their actions by officers from South Yorkshire Police.

In November last year Paul Hall, a steward at Sprotborough Country Club in Doncaster, spotted a man parking a van with a smashed window in the car park of the country club.

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Mr Hall then became suspicious and telephoned the van hire company that the vehicle belonged to, using the phone number written on the side of the van, and discovered that it had been stolen earlier that morning.

As he was unable to leave the country club, Mr Hall told his friend Arthur Williams, who happened to be passing, what he had seen, and Mr Williams followed the offender on foot.

Mr Williams, a retired police superintendent, then commandeered a vehicle to try and pursue the van thief, eventually caught up with him and made a citizen’s arrest.

Assisted by other members of the public, Mr Williams then escorted the man back to Sprotborough Country Club, where they waited until the police arrived.

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It was discovered that the van had been stolen in a burglary which had taken place in the early hours in Hexthorpe.

As a result, the offender was charged with burglary and theft and sentenced to four weeks in prison.

Inspector Ray Mountford paid tribute to Mr Hall and Mr Williams, saying: “This is one of the best examples I can remember of members of a Neighbourhood Watch taking brave and decisive action.

“They went above and beyond what is expected of Neigh- bourhood Watch members, resulting in a known prolific offender being arrested for burglary and theft.”