Video footage shows the moment a customer and a shopworker stopped a man from stealing a pack of Coors Lager from the Premier store in South Moor, Stanley.
How the theft was stopped
The shopworker blocked the door with her body while the customer grabbed the man by the neck. In a stand-off lasting several minutes, the pair wrestled with him to get the beer out of his hands.
The incident ended when another man entered the shop and threw the thief out, allowing the staff member to retrieve the lager as he fled.
Shopkeeper thanks the women
Shopkeeper Sukspreet Singh thanked the women for stepping in. He said: "This guy is stealing many times from the shop, he comes in quite often. The lady is a regular customer, she just wanted to help. She's a very nice lady."
Police investigation launched
Police are now hunting the thief, who struck at the Park Road shop at around 4.20pm on Tuesday. A Durham Constabulary spokeswoman said police were called just after 4.20pm following reports that people had been assaulted while trying to stop a shoplifter.
"He is thought to have assaulted the shop worker and grabbed the member of the public before making off from the scene. He is described as being in his forties with grey hair, and was wearing black joggers, a grey t-shirt and blue trainers. A police investigation has been launched – anyone with any information that could assist should contact Durham Constabulary," she said.
Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 321 of August 11.
