A SUSPECTED bag thief was stopped and arrested in Droitwich thanks to people power.

A group of people sitting outside a Droitwich pub gave chase after a man was accused of stealing a bag from a parked car.

They were helped by Worcester News reader Bob Brookes, who was driving along Ombersley Way when he saw the chase and took some pictures.

The man fled down a side street so the quick-thinking father-of-three, of Droitwich, followed closely behind and cornered him with his car.

The 58-year-old said: "There were a few cars coming both ways and suddenly there was some idiot darting between the traffic.

"Suddenly to see a whole group of people - there was obviously something up."

Mr Brookes said no one needed to restrain the man who, realising he was outnumbered, gave up and sat on a wall.

"Somehow in all this he managed to continued on page 2 keep hold of a bottle of lager," added Mr Brookes.

"He was swigging from this bottle of lager and giving v' signs at everybody."

Mr Brookes said the incident, which happened outside the Rifleman's Arm pub at about 7pm on Wednesday, was a demonstration of "people power".

"Obviously they had done all the hard work," he said.

"I think it was very much a team effort.

"It was a group of citizens acting responsibly."

Mr Brookes said he did not consider himself a hero.

"I don't think of myself as brave, it's just one of those things," he added.

"I'm a bit old fashioned.

"I really come from an era where you don't tolerate things like that.

"It simply appeared to be the right thing to do."

Mr Brookes said the group realised the bag, which belonged to one of them, had been stolen from a parked car off Station Street.

He said after it was recovered he was happy to capture a photograph of them all having a celebratory drink.

Manager at the pub Trudy Faulkner said her 39-year-old brother Colin, who is also a manager there, heard the commotion and gave chase.

"It was very Starsky and Hutch style," said the 47-year-old.

* A 20-year-old man has appeared in Worcester Magistrates' Court charged with theft from a motor vehicle. He was bailed to return to court on Thursday, June 14.