Neighbour helps nab would-be burglar

Quick-witted Dave Jones (44) dialled 999 after watching open-mouthed when a man who had been loitering in an alleyway between Vine Close and Elizabeth Way, Masbrough, began to climb into his neighbour’s home.

But rather than simply awaiting the arrival of the police, Dave went out to investigate and reached the end of the alleyway just in time to see the alleged culprit fleeing the scene on foot.

“I decided to follow him. I didn’t know what I was going to do but I didn’t want him to just walk away from what he’d done,” said Dave, of Elizabeth Way.

“I followed him out on to College Road and as we reached the bottom, where the bus lane ends, the police came screeching around the corner.

“I pointed out the man to them and they arrested him.”

Dave suspects that, had he not been there to point out the suspected burglar, the man would have made a clean getaway.

This week, grateful pensioner Hilda Reynolds paid tribute to Dave for his actions while she was out shopping last Friday.

The 69-year-old widow, who lives with her grandson, said: “When I got back from my shopping trip it was about five to five and the two bedrooms were upside down when I walked in. I didn’t know what had happened.

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“Some money was taken and some chains that had belonged to my late husband. They were of sentimental value.

“When I heard what Dave had done I was really pleased that the man hadn’t got away.

“It’s reassuring to know that people are looking out for one another.”

Hilda said that she took a packet of cigarettes and a bunch of flowers to Dave to say thank you the day after the incident.

She added: “What he did was brilliant.”

This week, Dave Jones’ partner, Jean (56), said that she would be appealing to Rotherham Borough Council for CCTV to be installed within the housing complex off College Road, Masbrough.

She said: “It’s a bit of a rabbit warren and the residents can feel very vulnerable. Something has to be done to improve security.”

A police spokesman confirmed that a man had been arrested in connection with the alleged burglary but had been released on bail pending further enquiries.