A CHIP shop boss was today praised by police after he served them up two crooks on a plate.

Steve Tipping, of Ebor Fisheries, gave officers a running phone commentary as he watched a man break into his fish shop.

Steve used a new spy camera security system to view the culprit from the safety of an upstairs flat, as the raider scoured the Bishopthorpe Road premises for cash and a lookout man waited outside.

But Steve did not have to wait very long for a team of at least five officers to arrive.

They swooped to arrest the empty-handed pair less than three minutes after the chippy owner dialled 999 and spoke to the force control room.

Residents are often quick to complain when the police do not arrive on time. So Steve said it was only right they are congratulated when things go right.

He told the Evening Press: "I woke up at about 4.50am one morning last week and heard a noise outside.

"At first I thought it was somebody emptying the communal bins, but the noise continued."

Steve said: "I looked on the CCTV system I put in a week ago and there was a guy inside my shop. His lookout was stood outside Costcutter."

He told cops how the intruder was crawling about on all fours on the floor of the shop, so anybody walking past would not see him through the front windows.

"When I phoned, the police said 'we'll be right there' - and they were.

"It took them two to three minutes, no later. They were absolutely brilliant.

"Everyone knocks them at some time, I've done it myself, but this was a fantastic response.

"It's reassuring to know they are there when you need them."

Steve said attacks on burglary victims, like the recent high-profile stabbing of school teacher Robert Symons at his London home, made him think twice about venturing downstairs to confront the intruder.

"That could easily happen to somebody else if you disturb them," admitted Steve, married to Jackie, 42. "You don't know what's going to happen."

North Yorkshire Police operations commander, Superintendent Alison Higgins, today thanked Mr Tipping for his help.

She said: "I think this proves that if we are given the right information and know exactly where we are going we can react swiftly and detect crime."

She said the force had to meet set performance targets and will use all available resources when dealing with an incident.

"We can take resources away from more routine calls to deal with cases like this," said Supt Higgins.

Updated: 09:10 Friday, October 29, 2004