Shoplifting Suspect Stopped by Police Chief After Chase
Sir Stephen Watson, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, had just finished attending a passing-out parade for new recruits in Bury when he witnessed officers chasing a man accused of shoplifting and assaulting a security guard.
Video footage captures the dramatic moment as officers run after the suspect, with Sir Stephen stepping forward to block his path and preventing his escape. Within seconds of being stopped, the man was handcuffed, insisting,
“I've done nothing, I didn't do no theft!”
Two others, a man and a woman, were also arrested nearby. All three suspects, who are in their 30s, remain in custody on suspicion of theft.
This event happens amid a renewed crackdown on shoplifting, with Greater Manchester Police prosecuting nearly 500 suspects each month.
Summary
Sir Stephen Watson’s direct intervention highlights Greater Manchester Police's active efforts in combating shoplifting, reflecting a broader crackdown on theft in the area.