Thief jailed after break-in attempt at police officer's Black Country home
When police officer Jason Dooley woke up suddenly in the middle of the night to the sound of his two dogs barking, he knew immediately something was wrong.
Peering out his bedroom window in Pelsall, he spotted an unknown man trying the handle of his car and then the door to his porch.
"I was in bed, and I have these two snappy Schnauzers, Penny and Titch, that usually make a lot of noise but it's very unusual for them to barking during the night," said PC Dooley. "But they were going absolutely mental."
On seeing the man, the officer, who has worked with West Midlands Police for nearly 30 years, was instantly concerned for his three-year-old daughter sleeping in the next room and asked his wife, Emily, to call 999.
He quickly pulled on his trainers and went outside to follow the suspected crook, but not before enlisting the help of local man Philip Green who had just got out of his car nearby.
Between them, they managed to apprehend the criminal further down Walsall Road, where PC Dooley lives, and lock him down until police arrived.
This week they both received awards for the bravery they both showed that night last year.
"I've never seen anything like it in all my years of policing, but as I ran at the guy and grabbed him, he was wearing headphones," PC Dooley added. "He started to struggle when he realised and was effing and blinding. He was trying to get up and fight."
Police discovered the thief, named as 28-year-old Daniel Kendall from Bloxwich, with two stolen laptops and six mobile phones, and he was promptly jailed for 30 weeks.
The officer, age 48, added: "Our dogs got a few extra treats after that. But it was all just annoying really. Pelsall is taking an absolute hammering at the moment. More than anything this really made me put myself in the public's shoes - now I know what it's like when this happens to them. I can relate to it now.
"I think Pelsall is often a target because there are a few decent cars there, and thieves know it's easy pickings."
PC Dooley was this week awarded a Chief Constable’s Award for his efforts while Mr Green, the man who helped him on the night, was also presented with a Chief Constable’s Good Citizens Award.
"I was more pleased for Philip than myself," added the officer, who works for Wednesbury Police. "I'm so pleased he got recognised. He absolutely had no hesitation when I asked him for help.
"I could have just sat on the thief but having him help me allowed me to take control of the situation a lot easier. I only had my hands you see, I didn't have my baton or my spray or anything.
"It turned out as well that Philip's dad is a retired police officer, and had worked at Staffordshire Police. He was there when Philip received the award, which was so nice."
This also is not the first time PC Dooley has made an off-duty arrest.
"It's actually my 24th, my wife said," he added. "I feel like I should wear blinkers sometimes, but when something happens you just need to get involved. It's about doing the right thing."
The stolen two laptops and six mobile phones were safely returned to their owners.
