Gotcha! Hungerford Arcade staff get their man as thief returns to crime scene

GOTCHA! Staff at Hungerford Arcade have long memories – as one thief who returned to the scene of his crime found to his cost.

Arcade co-owner Adrian Gilmour and his team have spent a small fortune reinforcing the premises against break-ins.

But a sneak thief managed to get away with jewellery from a stall four years ago.

He was never caught but the incident was captured on CCTV.

Mr Gilmour said: "We have long memories here – and we keep a record of those who try to steal from us in case they're foolish enough to try again."

After four years, this particular thief presumably thought memories would have faded, and decided to try his luck a second time.

It did not go well for him.

Mr Gilmour said: "One of our stallholders, Vanessa Brockwell, recognised the man from our photographic records and quietly raised the alarm.

"He was trying to get his hands into a cabinet with jewellery in."

Mrs Brockwell alerted her husband, duty manager Richard Brockwell.

He said: "Vanessa realised there was something not right and told me.

"I spoke to [stallholder] Dan Evans and between us we challenged the man.

"Dan's quite a big lad and no one was getting past him.

"We detained the guy in a corner while we reviewed CCTV footage and waited for the police."

Mr Gilmour said: "I'm extremely proud of the efficient and calm way the team responded.

"And thankfully Vanessa was alert enough to have spotted him."

The incident happened around noon last Thursday.

Mr Gilmour added: "The police arrived extremely quickly and took him away."

Staff are now waiting to hear whether the man will be prosecuted for the original theft, as well as the latest attempt.