A small business owner in Essex who suspected that one of his staff was guilty of stealing a company cheque and attempting to cash it, has ended up being arrested himself.
Simon Cremer, owner of In House Flooring in Witham had been alerted by Cash Convertors that someone had attempted to cash the cheque for £845.00 at one of their offices.
Cremer decided to make a citizens arrest and with three other members of staff wrestled the accused to the ground and tied his hands behind his back. He was then frogmarched to the local police station with a sign around his neck, that read:
THIEF I Stole £845 Am On My Way To Police Station
The stunt backfired when the men arrived at the Police station and were charged themselves for a range of charges including false imprisonment.
‘I was very angry,’ Said Cremer ‘When we got to the police station I handed him and the keys over. I thought I was making a citizen’s arrest. I regret what I did but I know in hindsight it wasn’t the wisest decision. I should have called the police and asked them to come and get him.’
All five men have been charged and released on police bail until November 7th.
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4 comments so far
1 Mr C // Sep 30, 2008 at 6:35 pm
The owner was angry and initially within his rights but crossed the line with the sign and parading the guy through the street.
Serves him right if he gets nicked too.
2 adrian // Oct 3, 2008 at 11:05 am
I suggest the owner and the other thugs wear a sign saying
“I am a viscous and violent thug and I tied up and beat the crap out of a colleague”
punishment without trials, maybe he should be working in Guantanamo Bay
3 THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG » Blog Archive » UK/Ireland Small Business News Round-up - 03/10/2008 // Oct 3, 2008 at 12:40 pm
[...] SME Business Owner Charged After Citizens Arrest: A small business owner in Essex who suspected that one of his staff was guilty of stealing a company cheque and attempting to cash it, has ended up being arrested himself. [...]
4 john clarke // Oct 12, 2008 at 10:16 pm
simon was right to humiliate this man how dare he think he can steal from the hand that feeds .small businesses have enough problems surviving in this current climate power to the people id do the same