Thief ditches stolen laptop after running out of breath

A thief who tried to steal a man's laptop was forced to ditch the item, running out of breath after 225 metres.

Peter Stevens, 34, pursued the thief when the man grabbed the computer from his car, reports Cambridge News.

A long-distance runner, Stevens explained that he thought his fitness would allow him to eventually catch up with the criminal. However, he was surprised by how quickly he closed him down "despite his obvious age advantage and a good long head-start".

"I was appalled by how unfit this guy was," he said. "I thought it would take a lot longer to catch up with him. If you are going to go into the snatch-and-run business, at least try and get fit or at least play to your strengths and go for something less energetic."

The thief, realising he would be caught, dropped the laptop and escaped without it.

Stevens continued: "I took the bait and picked up my laptop rather than catching him and beating him to a pulp, which in many ways would have been more satisfying.

"It was such a lousy performance on the thief's part and it made me worried about the fitness of youngsters."

Stevens donated to a charity that promotes youth fitness the following day.

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