COURAGEOUS shop owner Rebecca Cameron refused to let a thief get away with a car stereo from her store - even though she is five months pregnant.

The plucky mum-to-be chased the burly 6ft thief down the street, caught him and demanded the stereo back.

Rebecca, 22, saw the thief acting suspiciously in Cameron's Auto Accessory Centre, in Blossom Street, York, at 2pm on Thursday afternoon and watched him put the £100 Clarion car stereo under his jacket and hurry out of the store.

She then made a split-second decision to chase after him, shouting "stop" and managed to catch up with him, demanding that he hand it back.

"I didn't think about it at the time, it all happened so quickly. I don't see myself as brave, I just chased him. I didn't have time to stop and think."

When she got back to the shop Rebecca realised that the thief had in fact taken two car stereos. The other was a budget Aiwa model. He was caught on security camera and the video tape has been handed over to the police.

Rebecca said: "I have been working here for a couple of years and this has never happened before. Being five months pregnant I probably shouldn't have chased him, but I just didn't think at the time."

Police described the thief as being 6ft tall, about 30 years old and bald. He was wearing a red jacket and white trousers. Anyone with any information are asked to telephone York police on 01904 631321, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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