Police catch would-be car thief in the act

A man was caught in the act trying to steal from a car.

Neighbourhood officers were on foot patrol in Peterborough city centre on the morning of 17 March when they entered the Bull Hotel’s car park in Fitzwilliam Street and saw Ian Chowles, 44, leaning into the driver’s window of a car.

The officers shouted to Chowles to stay where he was, and as they approached, they saw the window was smashed.

He was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and attempted theft from a vehicle, but claimed the window was already smashed and he was just taking a look inside.