Fined for tackling shop thieves

From the Sun Online, June 30, 2007 -

A HERO shopkeeper was fined £250 yesterday because he tackled three thieves. Jacob Smyth, 33, chased and caught them after they grabbed armfuls of spray paint from his hardware store. Cops gave two of them £80 fixed penalty fines — charged Smyth with assault.

The dad of three pleaded guilty at Truro magistrates court in Cornwall rather than face possible jail. “I have a young child and do not want to run the risk of prison. But am I not allowed to protect my stock and premises from thieves?”