It took only five minutes for PCs Andrea Batty and Steve Addy from Darton and Dodworth Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) to arrive at the scene of a theft, after the owner of D.M Kaye store reported that a man had just entered and stolen a bottle of gin and a bottle of whisky.

The owner contacted Mapplewell Police Station immediately after the incident and officers began patrol in the area to catch the thief. They arrested a 28-year-old male from Barugh Green on Higham Common Road and returned the bottles of alcohol back to their rightful owner at the store.

The man arrested was already on bail conditions not to enter any shops in the area as a result of a previous offence. Consequently, he was sent straight back to prison for breach of bail.

PC Joanne Winn said: “SNTs are available to help and support the community where and whenever possible. In this occasion we were able to respond immediately to the concerns of the caller and it proved to be very successful. It’s great to be able to help locals like that.”