Officers swoop in city centre

10:30am Wednesday 14th March 2007

THESE were the dramatic scenes in York city centre after a suspected shoplifter was boxed in by a police patrol car.

The man, driving a Ford Fiesta, was boxed in at the junction between Goodramgate and King's Square by Sgt Martin Metcalfe.

Sgt Metcalfe said the man was arrested on suspicion of theft and also of driving without insurance, and added if he failed to prove he was insured, the car would be crushed under new powers.

He said the arrest came after security guards at Boyes store had liaised with police.

The man, who is from Teesside, was due to be charged last night, and was expected to appear at York Magistrates Court today. Yesterday - the 13th - happened to be the man's 34th birthday.

Sgt Metcalfe said the arrest was part of a shoplifting crackdown in the city centre.