No time to waste as postie's bike's stolen

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/4 ... _s_stolen/

GREEN waste collectors Dan Edwards and Ben Angell recycled more than just garden cuttings.

They didn’t ‘waste’ a moment after spotting an alleged thief trying to make off with a postman’s bike.

Not only did they get the bicycle – fully laden with Christmas mail – back. They also called police to the scene who collared a man.

Quick-witted Ben, from Ringwood, saw a lad cycle past in Christchurch and realised he was not wearing a postman’s uniform. He called out to colleague Dan, who said he must be a thief.

“I looked up to the cab and I said, ‘Ben, shall I have him?’,” said Dan, who is 22 and from Burton.

He chased after the suspect, followed him down an alleyway before catching up and grabbing the bicycle from him in Sydney Road. “I said, ‘Right mate, you’re going nowhere’.”

But as Dan tried to telephone the police on his mobile telephone the lad escaped and ran off into Arcadia Road.

Dan ran after him to the corner and found he had disappeared from view.

Meanwhile, Ben put the bicycle into a garden for safety.

Within three minutes police were on the scene and searched in the gardens that Dan pointed out to them.

“Within 10 minutes they had him out the back. He was covered in mud and sweating,” said Dan.

He said the postman had already contacted the sorting office to report the theft.

“I felt sorry for him,” said Dan. “The postman said he saw the lads eyeing the bike up.” The sorting office manager thanked Dan for his efforts.

A householder who saw what happened was full of praise for Ben and Dan. “They could have just ignored it but they were so vigilant and really went for it,” she said.

Christchurch Borough Council engineering manager Martin Limm described the pair’s efforts as “brilliant”.

“Absolutely great. It just shows the public spirit they have, doesn’t it?” he said.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We would like to thank the quick and public spirited actions of the two people involved, which resulted in the safe retrieval of our customers’ mail.

“The local delivery manager will be in contact shortly to thank them both.”

COMMENTS:

Xchurch-man, Christchurch says...
11:52am Wed 24 Dec 08
Is not the theft of mail considered a serious crime?
I hope that the horrid little chav responsible spends Christmas behind bars. He could have ruined the festivities for many people awaiting gifts through the post, and the money in Xmas cards which he was obviously trying to steal.
Sadly however he has probably just been given a ticking off and is out there now planning more crimes with his fellow miscreants.

Grumpy Griff, Christchurch says...
12:28pm Wed 24 Dec 08
Well done Ben and Dan, shame you couldn't of given the little scum a beating too.



LITTLE-M, says...
12:32pm Wed 24 Dec 08

Good to see some decent citizens still around whilst this country is falling apart at the seams. Well done Ben and Dan.