Police officers arrest shoplifter with help from The Bill's PC Reg Hollis
Officers from Southampton Police arrested a shoplifter with the help of PC Reg Hollis from The Bill.
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The officers, from Bargate Neighbourhoods Policing Team, were in the city in the afternoon when they were alerted by staff at Co-op in Ocean Way to a suspected shoplifter, who attempted to make good his escape on a bicycle.
The thief, Mohamed Diallo, fell off the bike during his attempts to flee, before officers pounced to make their arrest.
Diallo, 29, of Anglesea Road in Southampton, appeared in court on Thursday morning, where he pleaded guilty to five shoplifting offences, including the incident involving Mr Stewart.
He was bailed to be sentenced on August 29.
The moment has been captured on body-worn camera by one of the arresting officers.
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A spokesperson for Southampton Police said: "In policing you always expect the unexpected, but this really wasn’t on The Bill for today.
"Officers from Bargate NPT were in town when they were alerted by staff at Co-op in Ocean Way to a suspected shoplifter, who attempted to make good his escape on a bicycle.
"He then proceeded to fly over the handlebars of said bicycle, before officers pounced to make their arrest.
"To their surprise, local TV legend Jeff Stewart came to their aid by sitting on the suspect’s legs while officers put him in cuffs."
Diallo was convicted of the theft of £17.25 worth of coffee from a Co-op on July 23, the theft of £69.90 worth of coffee and food items on July 17, and of £54.50 of alcohol and coffee on July 14. He also admitted stealing £80 of wine from a Sainsbury’s on July 14 and £63 of alcohol on April 22.