A serial shoplifter suffered instant karma when a police officer threw him off a bike as he tried to flee a supermarket with alcohol and manuka honey.
Dramatic footage shows notorious thief Gareth Heywood, 56, furiously pedalling away from a plain clothes officer who was sprinting after him.
In a heroic intervention, the officer then launches himself at Heywood who is sent sprawling across the road.
Heywood is then heard yelling ‘F***ing hell man!’ before the composed officers slaps him in handcuffs.
The thief was arrested on September 9 after he was spotted stealing alcohol from a shop in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.
This is the dramatic moment Gareth Heywood was bundled to the floor after shoplifting
The heroic police officer chased after Heywood and grabbed him before sending him to the floor
He also admitted stealing four jars of expensive manuka honey – which costs up to £100 a jar – from a shop in the town centre.
Heywood, of no fixed address, admitted seven counts of thefts from shops and bank card fraud and was jailed for 24 weeks.
His arrest was one of 225 made by Warwickshire Police between last November and September this year in a crackdown on shoplifting.
During that period, £50,000 worth of property was recovered and crooks were jailed for a combined 16-and-a-half years.
Another prolific thief Thomas Johnstone, 37, of Coventry, was jailed for 30 months for a string of thefts.
He admitted ten counts of shoplifting food and booze worth £1,700 and two counts of assaulting shop workers.
He was arrested on August 6 after he was spotted stealing 12 bottles of wine from a shop in Cubbington in Leamington Spa.
Police released footage of their most dramatic arrests as they launch the ‘We Are Everywhere’ Safer Business Action Week.
Heywood, of no fixed address, admitted seven counts of thefts from shops and bank card fraud and was jailed for 24 weeks
Heywood was left sprawling on the floor before being arrested for stealing alcohol and manuka honey
Officers from the force’s Investigation Stands and Outcomes (IOC) team also recovered £50,000 worth of stolen goods.
Sergeant Ben James-Pemberton said: ‘We’re really pleased with this outcome.
‘Seeing two such prolific shoplifters behind bars will no doubt be a relief for local shopworkers.
‘As can be seen the case of Johnstone, shoplifting not only impacts the businesses financially, but can also lead to staff being subjected to violence.
‘We will not tolerate this and will continue to work with local businesses to tackle the problem.’