Pensioner gives burglar a shock

6:28pm Thursday 8th May 2008

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A HAVE-A-GO pensioner who tackled a burglar reckons the intruder got more of a shock than he did.

Vernon Fisher, who has been broken into three times, suspects the house breaker thought his 60-year-old wife Christina was at home alone.

Mr Fisher, 87, and his wife had been at the back of their home in Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, when Mr Fisher left her to put the kettle on and discovered the intruder on Wednesday.

"He was in the kitchen and looked as though he was making his way out. I thought you have no right to be in my house and went for him," Mr Fisher said.

"Unfortunately, he was a lot younger and a lot stronger than me and I finished on my back."

The former acting wartime REME warrant officer said: "It is something which happens on the spur of the moment. You don't think at the time, the adrenaline takes over.

"I may be wrong, but I think he must have thought Chris was on her own. I think he was more surprised than I was.

"I ended up with a scraped elbow - but he only got away with 22."

The retired school laboratory technician's advice to his burglar is get a job.

"I have worked all my life and have never been out of work. These people are just idle, taking the easy way out. He could be feeding a drugs habit, but he only got 22 and my telephone," he said.

The burglar is described as white, about 5ft 6ins tall and in his 30s, with bulging eyes and a bald head.

He made his escape on a black mountain bike after walking in through the couple's back door.

Cleveland Police are appealing for witnesses to ring them on 01642-303126 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.