Felixstowe: Police praise witness who helped catch armed robber
FELIXSTOWE: Police have praised a witness whose quick action and “excellent work” helped catch an armed robber.
They say the public are vital in helping to solve crime – and have urged people to follow the example and report incidents immediately.
Det Sgt Andrew Smethurst was speaking following the jailing for two years of Aron Harrison, 18, who walked into the Premier Express Underwood’s grocery store in Beach Station Road, Felixstowe, and robbed it at knifepoint.
Harrison, of Grange Road, Felixstowe, grabbed �75 of cigarettes and stuffed them in his bag before making off.
“Prompt action from a member of the public significantly helped us to catch Harrison after he carried out this robbery at knifepoint,” said Det Sgt Smethurst.
“The witness was driving past the store when he saw a man wearing a red crash helmet running along Beach Station Road just metres away from Underwoods where the alarm was going off.
“He thought this looked suspicious and followed the man, watching as he got on to a motorcycle. The witness took the registration of the bike and passed this to police.
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“From this officers traced the owner (not Harrison) and from there managed to determine it was Harrison on the bike.
Officers attended Harrison’s address and found the motorbike and the red crash helmet outside. “He was then spotted by a PCSO just around the corner from the address,” said Det Sgt Smethurst.
“He was arrested less than an hour-and-a-half after the offence. This was excellent work by the witness and by officers who acted quickly to detain the offender.”
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