Video: Copper hops on vandal's own bike to chase him down

A vandal in Birmingham who was smashing up a shop front dropped his bike when he spotted a police car – only for a quick-thinking officer to hop on it and chase him down.

Video of the incident was tweeted on Sunday by West Midlands Police’s East Birmingham Response Team – complete with a laughing emoji.

A couple of police officers replying to the tweet recalled similar experiences.

Here at Birmingham East response, we love commandeering vehicles.

Imagine being a crook, halfway through a crime, and seeing a police car. You drop your bike and run away, only to see a cop chasing you down on your own pushbike

1 in custody for smashing a store front up. pic.twitter.com/X5OjKabA92

— B'ham East Response (@ResponseWMP2) July 29, 2018

The officer’s actions were praised by a senior officer at the force in a tweet that made a reference to Geraint Thomas’s Tour de France victory.

Everyone’s got the #TourdeFrance2018 bug! Great work!

— Ch Supt Chris Todd (@ChSuptTodd) July 29, 2018

A couple of police officers replying to the tweet recalled similar experiences.

Ha ha lovely job, it's good to be resourceful
Whilst serving in Thames Valley dealt with a report of a stolen boat on the Thames, I waved down another boat, got a lift, catching the thief up at the next lock.

— Phil Haseler (@PhilHaseler1) July 29, 2018

Skills! Once stopped a bike thief who tried to ride off, only we were in a marked car. Overtake, slow down, crew partner opens door as he tries to ride past again- bosh! You're nicked son.

— Bob (@BarnsleyBob3878) July 29, 2018

;That second tweet brings to mind this story from last year in which someone who had stolen from a car in London tried to make his escape on a Boris bike – but was knocked off by a police officer opening a van door in his path.