Postman's good deeds dismissed

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/artic ... -dismissed" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A postman who apprehended a thief fleeing a Newark store was forced to let the man go after no one was willing to help or call the police.

Mr Paul Bennett, 50, of Claypole, tackled a man running out of Marks and Spencer, but was was left stunned when no one in the street or from the store came to his aid.

Having wrestled two bottles of alcohol from the man, Mr Bennett, who served in the Grenadier Guards in Northern Ireland, took the bottles back to the shop, and, to his surprise, said he was not even thanked by management or security.

“I was outraged at the response of everyone on the day,” Mr Bennett said.

“Firstly no one helped me stand up to the criminal and then the shop gave me a less than welcoming response when I returned the goods.

“I was told by the staff that this happened all the time and it was very difficult to stop — but in my opinion it is not, the security should stand up to these thieves, because at the end of the day it is normal law-abiding citizens like ourselves who end up getting hit in the pocket by this.

“All I was trying to do was do the right thing but no wonder people are put off from doing that, putting their safety on the line, when no one else is willing to stand up and help.”

Mr Bennett had finished his round in Long Bennington and was making his way through Newark, from Lombard Street past Marks and Spencer, to meet his wife, Mrs Sue Bennett, for lunch.

Mr Bennett confronted one of two men as they fled the rear doorway of Marks and Spencer leading on to St Mark’s Lane.

Mr Bennett grabbed the man, wrestled him into a corner and called out for help or someone to call the police.

After minutes of jostling Mr Bennett saw no option but to let the man go.

“All I wanted was for someone to call the police, but no one could even do that,” Mr Bennett said.

“This is the problem we have in society today, people won’t stand up to criminals. There just seems to be a kind of acceptance.

“Despite all of this it would not stop me from doing it again — but next time if I catch a criminal I am going to drag him to the police station.”

Mrs Bennett said she was worried about the whole situation and her husband was left clearly shaken.

“He could have been hurt but challenged the man and returned the goods,” she said.

“I was also worried that he might be reported to the police for his actions, because you hear of lots of things like that happening, where those in the wrong prosecute people helping out.”

Mr Bennett decided not to report the incident to police.

A spokesman for Marks and Spencer said: “An incident of shoplifting took place at our Newark store and a member of the public pursued the thieves and retrieved the stolen items.

“We are grateful to Mr Bennett for his assistance in returning the stolen goods to our store but for their own safety we would discourage members of the public from any attempts to apprehend shoplifters.

“Like all retailers we have a wide range of security measures in place to deter shoplifting including the use of CCTV cameras and security tagging.”

[Lincox]

They could have at least sent him a voucher for one of their £10 menus. Tight load of bstrds.

[100%]

Good on you Postie!!

Cant help wondering how you get done in time to have lunch with the wife though.
Mine is giving me a hard time now, as we dont get done till mid afternoon.

[steven100]

Surprised he's not been in the office for neglecting his duties. Maybe thats still to come.

Articles few months on.

Postie sacked for neglecting his duties!!!!!!

[glenfiddich]

i stopped one in argos he had the cheek to stand next to me stuffing clearance bargains down his jacket then couldn't understand why i stopped him he thought i was in the wrong

[Judgee]

“Like all retailers we have a wide range of security measures in place to deter shoplifting including the use of CCTV cameras and security tagging.”


....which obviously work really well!


Few years back saw two guys run out of Bodgers with armfuls of clothes and into a waiting car. Ran in to tell the staff and give them the registration number and was met with very dirty looks from the two teenage girls working there, because I had interupted thier very important chat on types of nail polish!

Basically they just turned around and carried on chatting, so I don't bother anymore!

[Lounge Lizard]

“Like all retailers we have a wide range of security measures in place to deter shoplifting including the use of CCTV cameras and security tagging.”


....which obviously work really well!


Few years back saw two guys run out of Bodgers with armfuls of clothes and into a waiting car. Ran in to tell the staff and give them the registration number and was met with very dirty looks from the two teenage girls working there, because I had interupted thier very important chat on types of nail polish!

Basically they just turned around and carried on chatting, so I don't bother anymore!

They just didn't want their boyfriends to get caught.

[RedBagMan]

It was the line "Had finished work and was meeting his wife for lunch" that confused me ... lunch ? Surely afternoon tea ...