Corsham thief catcher gets ticked off by police (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Corsham thief catcher gets ticked off by police

2:14pm Thursday 9th July 2009

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French artist Nicolas Dumine, who threatened a thief with his walking stick, was shocked when police gave him a ticking off.

Mr Dumine, 72, was so angry when a man tried to steal a bike in Corsham town centre he chased after him with his walking stick and made him give the bike back.

But when Mr Dumine, who is originally from Paris, later told police what had happened they were not impressed.

Mr Dumine said: “I approached the two policemen and told them what had happened and I was shocked when he told me a I shouldn’t be using my stick like that.

“I wouldn’t have used my stick on him because I am not like that and also because I have had it for more than 20 years and it is made of ebony. However if this happened to me in the future I would defend myself. This sort of thing should not be going on in this town.”

Mr Dumine, who teaches art at his home in Hobbs Walk, Corsham, was sitting in his flat with his front door open watching shoppers go by when he spotted a couple who were acting suspiciously.

He said: “I enjoy watching people go past and I am used to people stopping to admire my paintings but there was something about the man and I saw him suddenly lift my neighbour’s bike over the railings outside the flats and carry it off.

“My immediate response was to go after him as he had just taken something that wasn’t his.”

He was surprised at his own agility when he ran down the road after the man and confronted him. He said the walking stick was only for ornamental use.

He said: “I asked him why he had taken the bike and he said it was his. I replied saying that it didn’t belong to him and that if he didn’t give it back I would wrap my walking stick around his neck.

“So he put the bike down and left and I had to carry it back to my flat where I have kept it until my neighbour retrieves it.”

A police spokesman said: “Wiltshire Police recognise the valuable contribution the public make towards preventing crime.

“However, we would discourage anyone from placing themselves in a position which may expose themselves or others to risk.”

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