Shoplifters try to escape by running into North Sea

Bungling shoplifters tried to escape arrest by wading into the North Sea. The dim-witted duo had snatched food from the Co-op store in Holland-on-Sea. When they were pursued by police officers on bicycles, their only escape route was across the beach and into the water. The thieves, a man aged 25 and a woman aged 19, endured the icy cold North Sea for 30 minutes, before handing themselves into police, who were patiently waiting on the beach.

RNLI inshore lifeboat crews from Clacton, on a training exercise nearby at the time, were called in case they were needed to rescue the runaways. A team from Clacton Coastguard also attended the scene. PCSO Colin Moss was on patrol in the area at the time and responded to the call. He gave chase to the suspects in a scene described as a triathlon in reverse.

The two suspects were also on pedal bikes, prompting a chase from PCSO Moss through Holland-on-Sea to the seafront. They then abandoned their bikes and ran across the beach into the water. Once they had gone into the sea, PCSO Moss kept a watching brief and called for back-up, prompting the stand off. Eventually, police officers persuaded the pair to come out of the water and were arrested on suspicion of shoplifting.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Staff reported a man and woman taking items from the store on Wednesday at about 7.20pm. Police attended and two people were followed by police on bicycles and they went into the sea, refusing to come out. At about 8pm, they were finally persuaded to come out and were arrested.” No further action is being taken against the woman. Tim Broad, of no fixed address, has been charged with two offenses.