From finding a stolen bike while off-duty to arresting someone after a chance sighting in a shop, PC Ryan Flaherty has been in the right place at the right time recently.
It’s fair to say the Newark police officer has been kept rather busy over the last few days, playing a direct role in the recovery of around £3,000 worth of stolen items.
PC Flaherty’s latest success took place on Wednesday (30 October) when a series of Airfix and Warhammer model kits were stolen from a shop in Newark town centre.
After reviewing CCTV at the store, the officer and PCSO Jamie Evans visited another shop that same day after receiving reports that it had seen an increase in people trying to sell these types of model kits.
It was then, while he was removing some of the items from the shop, that a customer came in wanting to trade in a Warhammer kit—someone PC Flaherty recognised from the footage.
A bag the customer was carrying was also found to contain multiple Airfix and Warhammer kits, and the 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft and handling stolen goods as a result.
Believing it to be one reported stolen from Newark town centre the day before, the neighbourhood officer stopped the rider in his tracks.
The pushbike was confirmed to be the one taken and was returned to its owner, while the 13-year-old boy stopped was initially arrested on suspicion of theft.
These results—coupled with some good work alongside PCSO Evans to track down large amounts of stolen cables on 22 October—meant PC Flaherty had a hand in recovering thousands of pounds of stolen property in the space of ten days.
Sergeant Marcus Bloomfield, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“Each of these results over this ten-day period really sums up the traits Ryan has as a brilliant police officer.
“Around £3,000 worth of stolen property was found and returned to the respective owners, who were each really pleased with these outcomes.
“PC Flaherty was literally in the right place at the right time to ensure positive action could be taken in each of these incidents, but it wasn’t just down to that.
“He also showed a great awareness of his surroundings to make these observations, with his decision to respond while off-duty, in particular, really showing his commitment to his role.”
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