Strictly star tackles tube station thief

Published on 11/08/2012 02:32

Strictly Come Dancing star Brendan Cole has told how he stepped in to make a citizen’s arrest after spotting an attempted handbag theft at a London tube station.

The professional dance star followed and detained a man after he targeted a woman’s bag on a busy staircase.

Cole, who begins rehearsing for a new series of BBC1’s Strictly on Monday, gave police a statement after the man’s arrest at Baker Street underground station on Thursday evening.

The 36-year-old said: “I was walking in a busy tube station and it felt like something wasn’t quite right and sure enough I noticed there was a guy who was trying to get into a handbag, under his rucksack.

“I turned round and stopped to make a fuss and after I checked the girl was all right, I stuck with the guy.”

He kept the man occupied until a policeman arrived on the scene.

“I just stuck with him until the policeman came to make sure he didn’t leave. There was no argy bargy or anything,” added Cole.