Building boss puts giant banner outside his home with photo of an alleged tool thief – but is told by cops to take it down or face arrest
Sebastian Stephenson had thousands of pounds worth of tools stolen from his van in just a few months
A BUILDING boss who put up a “wanted” poster to track down a tool thief suspect has been warned to take it down or face arrest.
Sebastian Stephenson’s giant poster picturing the alleged offender under the words “Wanted dead or alive” was blasted by unsympathetic police.
The project manager was enraged when £4,500-worth of tools was pinched from his van parked outside his home in Croydon, south London.
In response Mr Stephenson erected a Wild West-style banner featuring CCTV footage of the incident and offering a £1,000 reward.
He then uploaded the full 2 minute 24 second clip to YouTube, set to the Pink Panther theme tune, which has received more than 4,000 hits.
But the boss of firm Diligent Developments was soon visited by Met Police officers who were not amused by his attempt to track down the suspect.
He was told he faced being arrested for inciting public disorder but argued cops were “doing nothing” to catch an offender and said he had been targeted by thieves several times over the past few months.
Mr Stephenson said he handed the “clear as day” footage to officers but was told they had closed the investigation without charging anybody.
He said: "When the police said they weren't going to do anything I had to take matters into my own hands.
"But on Monday a policeman went to my house looking to arrest me for inciting public disorder because of the banner.
"I said I just want information whether the thief be dead or whether he be alive.
"That doesn't mean I'm telling people to go out and kill him. I'm not inciting violence, it's entertainment, it's banter."
Mr Stephenson said he had £2,000 worth of tools pinched just before 5am on May 23 - which were replacements from ones pinched from his van in February this year - with £4,500-worth of tools pinched in all.
He said the thief uses a master key to break into his van - which means he can break into the van within seconds, as shown in the footage.
He added: "After the incident in May I looked back at the footage from the camera on my house and saw a gentleman using a key to open my van.
"You can tell he knew what he was doing from the way he took the stuff. He didn't open any of the boxes because he knew what he was taking.
"I'm sure he took the tools in February and had come back for more."
He added: "I called the cops and explained what happened, that I had caught the guy red-handed and I had a video.
"They said they would send the video to the national database."
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He said that was 'no good' as it wouldn't lead to the thief being nicked - and that the next thing he knew he got a visit by the police warning him to take down the banner.
He said: "I got a call from the police to say the inspector had been around my house.
“They wanted to have a conversation to me about the sign and they weren't impressed. I was told I could be arrested for a public order offence.
“I was very angry with the police. Everyone knows it is cowboys and Indians stuff. It’s just a bit of banter to get people interested in the sign.
“I’m not inciting violence. I said to the police, do you really think I want a dead body on my driveway?"
He said he was not going to take down the banner, adding: "Why should I? I haven't done anything wrong.
"I'm going to continue to try to find this guy and, when I do, I'm going to do a citizen's arrest and take him to the station myself.
"People shouldn't be in fear of enforcing the law. I shouldn't have to do it myself but I have no confidence in the police."
His posting on YouTube has had around 4,000 hits - and his message on the Diligent Developments website states: "HELP US CATCH THIS THIEF - £1000 REWARD!
"This man has a master key to Ford Transit vans.
"He has struck me twice this year. Each time stealing thousands of pounds of tradesman tools.
"Can you believe, this man targets hard working people in the dead of the morning?
“He has stolen my tools once before this year in Feb 24th 2016. But now he has hit me again for another few grand of tools.
"This man has treated my van like his own personal shopping cart.
"The police…..well……what do you think was done. They have closed the case and uploaded the images to a “national database. What bloody good can that do??
"I asked the Police to send a letter to transit van owners in the area, or do a quick door-to-door in the evenings to let tradesmen in the area know about the capabilities of this thief.
"They said, ‘yeah, that’s a good idea’. But nothing has been done.
"So I have taken matters into my own hands, and with your help we can deliver this thief to justice.
"PLEASE SHARE!!!! To all tradesmen – please don't buy stolen tools. If you too know how it feels to be robbed for your tools of the trade.
"If you see this crack head selling you Dewalt and Makita tools for next to nothing,
"Show him the door and call the police – or better yet, call ME!
";Today I gave the police the following information on the THIEF: vehicle colour and make he drives, prison he served time in 2014, the offence he committed and served time for, the location he worked whilst in prison, they already have his description."
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