SECURITY staff at the University of Exeter have been praised after they caught a suspected thief with stolen property.

The alarm was first raised by two resident tutors on the university’s Streatham campus who spotted the alleged offender and became suspicious.

They contacted the site’s security guards, who detained the man until police arrived.

The incident happened at around 11.50pm on Tuesday, March 9.

Police searched the suspect and found laptops and clothes, which were believed to have been stolen.

It is not yet known whether the alleged thefts were committed on the campus or at properties outside the university grounds.

Neighbourhood beat manager for the university PC David Dalziel praised campus security staff.

“Two resident tutors were in the St German’s Road area and saw a man acting suspiciously, so they called the university’s security staff,” he said.

“They attended and spoke to the man. They then called the police as they suspected him of being involved in an offence.

“He was verbally detained until police officers arrived.”

He added: “This was great teamwork between university security and the police.

“The security patrollers showed some excellent skills in assessing the situation and keeping the suspect in the area until police arrived.”

Inspector Andy Oliver, from the force control room, added: “This was an excellent piece of work by university security staff who do a great job working with the police to keep the area safe.”

A police spokesman said an officer suffered minor injuries after a man was arrested in connection with the incident.

Some of the items believed to have been stolen, including an iPod Touch and a pair of hair straighteners, have not yet been recovered.

Police are now appealing for witnesses to the incident and are urging  anyone who might have seen anything to contact them.

A spokeswoman for the security team at the university said: “The estate patrol team prides itself on providing a rapid response to incidents on campus.

“We’re proud that the quick thinking of staff meant a crime could be intercepted and property returned to its owner.

“We patrol 24 hours a day to improve security and the safety of university staff and students.”

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact police on 08452 777444, quoting log number 1000 of March 9.

A 22-year-old man from Exeter has been charged with burglary and assaulting a police officer in connection with the incident.

He is expected to appear before city magistrates this morning.