A SUSPECTED shoplifter was arrested after being chased across a supermarket car park by store detectives, a town centre beat officer and the Assistant Chief Constable of Kent.

A 29-year old woman from Maidstone was released on police bail pending further inquiries following the alleged theft from the Boots store in the Mall Chequers, Maidstone, on Thursday evening.

The alleged thief was being questioned by store detectives outside the store when Asst Ch Con Allyn Thomas, PC Linda Gillette and town centre manager Bill Moss approached.

Mr Thomas had been in Maidstone to talk strategy with area commander Supt Mark Salisbury before heading out on a town centre tour.

Mr Moss, said: "We were heading up the escalator and got to Boots in time to see a store detective talking to a suspected shoplifter outside the store. I said it looked as if something was going off and Linda and Mr Thomas started walking off towards the them to see what was happening.

"At that moment the suspect turned around saw the police approaching and legged it out of the Chequers Centre hotly pursued by store detectives, the police officer and the Assistant Chief Constable of Kent."

The woman ran across the front of the neighbouring Sainsbury’s store where more security staff joined in before being arrested by Mr Thomas at the edge of the supermarket car park.

Ch Insp David Pascoe from Maidstone and Malling Police, said it was always good to see senior officers spring into action.

He said: "It’s great when they do this sort of thing. It reminds them of why they joined the police force in the first place."