A THIEF who stole an antique clock was identified and caught after appearing on a television programme being airlifted to hospital.

The Victorian mahogany clock worth £600 was stolen from Sturmans Antiques shop, in Hawes, North Yorkshire, last summer.

CCTV cameras captured a middle-aged woman dressed in motorcycle clothing take the clock from the rear of the shop where it was on display.

Shop owner Peter Sturman said: “It was a Paul Daniel’s moment – the clock just vanished.

“The woman even cheekily spent some time chatting to my staff.”

He reported the incident to police and images of the woman were circulated.

Following the theft, an acquaintance of Mr Sturman, who had seen the images, was watching a repeat of the television programme Helicopter Heroes, which follows the work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The episode, filmed in 2009, featured a woman being airlifted to hospital in Lancaster after a motorcycle accident.

The man, who has asked not to be named, was shocked to realise it was the same woman he had seen on the CCTV images stealing the clock.

The theft was investigated by PC Emma Taylor, from Leyburn police station. She said: “Images of the woman and a man she was with were quickly put together. When we looked at the film, she had put the clock under her jacket and spent some time wandering round, in no hurry. I noticed both she and the man were dressed in motorcycle clothing.”

After being contacted by the viewer, police obtained the woman’s address and went to her home in Lancaster.

A search of the house revealed the stolen clock taking pride of place on the bedroom mantelpiece.

PC Taylor said: “She was shocked to see us because she thought she had got away with it, but thanks to an eagle-eyed member of the public, the clock has now been returned to its rightful owner.”

The 51-year-old thief escaped with a formal caution.

No action was taken against a man arrested at the same time.