Have-a-go hero bitten by shoplifter -twice

12:00pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News By Jim Durkin

Rob Franks stopped a shoplifter at Pets at Home in Poole and was bitten on the arm Rob Franks stopped a shoplifter at Pets at Home in Poole and was bitten on the arm

A HAVE-a-go hero window cleaner who stepped in to help stunned staff at a Poole pet store was bitten twice... by a shoplifter.

Brave Rob Franks and his wife, Carla, were visiting Pets at Home in Broadstone Way, when they noticed staff trying to detain a man.

As the thief bolted Rob sprang into action, giving chase on to the main road.

Rob, aged 34, explained: “I managed to rugby tackle the guy to the ground and hold him there.

“He was trying to throw punches but nothing connected. Then he bit me twice.

“A shop assistant chased him with me. The shoplifter was threatening both of us and when he bit me he screamed ‘I’ve got hepatitis’.”

Married dad-of-two Rob, of Rosemary Road, Poole, has since been given the all-clear from doctors.

“After he bit me I let go,” he told the Daily Echo.

“But I thought, ‘in for a penny, in for a pound’ got up and chased after him again.”

With the help of the shop worker Rob cornered the suspect until police arrived.

However, this isn’t the first time Rob has intervened against lawbreakers.

Once, at another Poole pet shop in 2011, he ordered a shoplifter to put back his ill-gotten gains.

Another time, in July 2007, Rob confronted a pair of youths in Poole’s Dolphin Shopping Centre after spotting them stealing from Wilkinsons.

“People can knock me all day long for stepping-in but I’d do it again,” he said.

“We work so hard for the little bit we do get.

“Why should somebody else be able to go into a shop, take something that isn’t theirs and think they can get away with it?

“It is not right. It is not right at all. I would do what I did again in a heartbeat.”

After last Tuesday afternoon’s drama, Rob and Carla were given a free hamster cage – the item they’d originally gone to buy for their kids – by thankful Pets at Home bosses.

l Anthony Cole, aged 32, from Poole, admitted theft from a shop, ABH and common assault at Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

He was remanded in custody until sentencing at crown court next month.

Comments(13)

suzigirl says...
12:49pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Tight wads - they could have thrown in a hamster as well!

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Perihelion says...
1:16pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Wow! That must be a large cage - big enough for their baby goats.
Well done to you Rob for your efforts.

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djd says...
1:27pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Well done Rob, a few more like you and thieving wouldn't be so easy.

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B.F.G says...
1:30pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Well done mate :)

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Dlt_debz says...
1:37pm Wed 20 Mar 13

suzigirl wrote:
Tight wads - they could have thrown in a hamster as well!
It's so good to see that the good actions of someone are being acknowledged, I wish there was more people out there who were willing to do what Rob has done, I have chased a few shoplifters in my time as part of my job and it is rare for a member of public to help out, and it is nice to see that he has been rewarded for his effort, as for them not giving him a hamster, I'm sure they would if he had wanted one

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The Renegade Master says...
4:12pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Fair play to you Rob for doing the right thing. This world needs more people like you to stand up to the pilfering scum out there.

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manyogie says...
5:11pm Wed 20 Mar 13

The biggest help would be that the pilfering sums photos were not banned because of their 'rights
But, good luck to you fellah for doing that, mind you, I,d avoid pet shops in the future,

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Bournemouth2014 says...
7:03pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Fair play to you. New sheriff in town! Shoplfters beware! :-)

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ragj195 says...
8:32pm Wed 20 Mar 13

I chased two burglars out of my house and down the road. In hindsight it was the wrong thing to do but the adrenaline took over. I have two kids, if they had pulled a knife I could be another crime stat.

By all means people should stick up for themselves and others but material things can be replaced.

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mike in florida says...
8:40pm Wed 20 Mar 13

well done rob
scum need to be sorted early

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Bob49 says...
9:23pm Wed 20 Mar 13

manyogie wrote:
The biggest help would be that the pilfering sums photos were not banned because of their 'rights
But, good luck to you fellah for doing that, mind you, I,d avoid pet shops in the future,
eh ?

you been at the Mail again ?

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O'Reilly says...
11:01pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Hopefully he has had his anti-rabies immunisation........
.........

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s-pb2 says...
11:10pm Wed 20 Mar 13

I think if i was Rob my foot would have slipped and i would have accidentally kicked the thief in the love spuds.

Well done Rob, your a great example to all, and Im sure your kids must be very proud of you.

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