Stop Thief!

According to the Associated Press, a mailman who heard the cries of "Stop Thief" tackled a suspected bank robbery suspect and helped detain him until he was arrested by police.

When I read this news blurb I found it very difficult to believe, the incredible part is not that a mailman would risk life and limb to tackle a fleeing bank robber, but that someone would actually shout, "Stop Thief"

"Stop Thief" is the kind of phrase that you hear only in "B" movies, in real life folks just don't utter such trite sayings.

If a mugger grabs my briefcase, I'm not going to scream "Stop Thief", I will be much more likely to mutter, "What the F***", or yell "You a******".

Did the bank customer who ran after the bank robber crying out "Stop Thief", really think that the bank robber would say to himself, "Oh, I'm being ordered by a concerned law-abiding citizen to halt, I'd better comply with his reasonable request"?

Or did he really imagine, that by shrieking "Stop Thief" that a Good Samaritan would come to his rescue? It was extremely fortunate that the letter carrier, who is 6'1" and 200 pounds decided to get involved.

The mailman, Jeffrey Turner, should get a "Letter Carrier of the Year Award" and the bank customer who wailed "Stop Thief" should be arrested for uttering such a cliche phrase.