All was quiet when York Minster policeman Alex Johnson started his night shift.

Strolling around the beautiful grounds of the Minster, he suddenly received a radio message telling him to keep an eye out for a gang involved in a smash-and-grab raid at a clothing shop.

It was thought they could be sharing out their stash.

Alex found nothing for an hour, but at midnight he sent a message to control room: "College Street, standby. Five of 'em are here, the sixth one is still stretched out on the pavement. He's not moving but the others are running off down Goodramgate."

Alex charged towards the one lying on the ground to make an arrest.

At this point there was a scuffling noise on the radio and then silence.

"Oh heck, his arm has come off. I just grabbed it and it came off in my hand."

Alex returned to the Minster control room arm in arm with... a stuffed tailor's dummy.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.