Builders save pensioner and catch mugger

5:16pm Wednesday 25th July 2007

TWO builders saved a pensioner and helped catch a mugger after spotting a daylight robbery.

Crimefighters Paul Browne and Anthony Lawson were sitting in their van when they saw a thief grab an elderly woman's handbag.

The pair got out of their van and chased after the thief - with Paul going in one direction and Anthony trying to cut off his escape route.

The pair managed to get the stolen bag off Daniel Moan, who escaped on his bicycle, but not before the quick-thinking duo took a picture of him on their mobile phone.

Thanks to the photo they snapped, detectives recognised the culprit immediately and the 24-year-old thief has been jailed for 10 months.

Paul, 44, of Hetton, said: "We were coming back from a builder's merchants in Hendon and we saw an old lady running after a lad who was on a bike.

"She looked really upset and we knew straight away she must have had something pinched."

The pair jumped out the van and ran towards the bike rider who was heading through fields at Ryhope.

Paul, who has two daughters aged 11 and 18, said: "I was on foot and feeling pretty tired. Suddenly, I saw the guy stop and rifle through the bag through the bag."

Moan realised he was about to be caught and dropped the bag and fled.

Paul, married to Sharon, 39, said: "He also left his own backpack behind which had a mobile phone in it and other personal bits and pieces.

Paul added: "Anthony had managed to get a photograph of him on the mobile phone just before he rode off."

The pair, who are partners in Sunderland building firm Viewpoint Construction, then checked the elderly woman was not hurt before contacting the police.

She had just been to the post office and had the money in her bag.

Moan, 24, of Grangemere Close, Sunderland, was later arrested after police used the photograph to trace him.

After a search of an address in Ryhope, stolen property was recovered from previous thefts.

Moan pleaded guilty at Sunderland Magistrates Court to two counts of theft, both on elderly victims, and was sentenced for five months for each offence. He will serve his sentence consecutively.

Sgt Keith Goldsmith, of the Ryhope and Grangetown Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "This is a great example of the community working together and bringing offenders to justice.

"Moan had no choice but to plead guilty, he was caught on a mobile phone and we found other stolen goods."

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